34 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



being mantled with yellow flowers, has been already mentioned ; and 

 two or three other kinds of Leguminous trees were met with. Of lofty 

 climbing vines, besides the infrequent Bauhinias, a species of Mucuna 

 was detected by its racemes of flowers, that were swaying at the end 

 of long string-like peduncles, traceable for six feet or more until lost 

 among the interlaced branches of forest-trees. Of herbaceous vines, 

 species were observed of Rhyndiosia, Phaseolus, Dolichos, Galactia, and 

 Cliforia. And of humble plants, more or less herbaceous, species 

 of Desmodlum, of Crotalaria (all of them yellow-flowered), Zornia, 

 StyJosanthes ; and in the marshes, JEscliynomene. 



8. UrticacecB. A species of Cecropia, regarded as one of the largest 

 and most remarkable trees of the Brazilian forest, was conspicuous 

 on the Organ Mountains, from its smooth bark and the white under- 

 surface of the leaves, readily mistaken in the distance for flowers. 

 The species of Ficus were unusually numerous for America, and were 

 all trees, several of them of the la.rgest size. Species of Celiidem were 

 also frequent, forming shrubs more or less arborescent, and small trees : 

 but especially, there was a great variety of large shrubs closely allied 

 to Urtica, that abounded in cool shady situations, more particularly 

 beyond the Organ Mountains. Of humble species of Urticacese, the 

 only ones met with were the tenderly herbaceous Dorsienias, growing 

 as already stated in moist places in the deepest shade, along the 

 banks of mountain-rills. 



9. Solanacece. The largest species met with was a Solanam, a tree 

 twenty-five feet high with the trunk seven inches in diameter. Other 

 species of Solanum were abundant and in great variety, most of them 

 rank-growing thick-stemmed shrubs, with coarse foliage and often 

 showy flowers ; but some of the rank-growing species proved herba- 

 ceous. Many-stemmed shrubs, belonging to Solandra, Cestnmi, and 

 other similar genera, were abundant ; and with the Solanaceas in gene- 

 ral, seemed chiefly confined to partially cleared situations, as along the 

 sides of roads opened through the forest. 



10. EupJiorhiacece. Holding the tenth place from the abundance of 

 coarse-leaved Amaranthiform species of Cvoton, growing, many of them 

 arborescent, in partially cleared situations : the largest Euphorbiaceous 

 tree met with was a large-leaved species of Croton, spreading, and in 

 one instance forty feet high with the trunk a foot in diameter. Climb- 

 ing Euphorbiaceae were also met with, as the Dalecliampia, a herba- 

 ceous Passiflora-like vine ; and two Tixifjias, also herbaceous vines. 



