30 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



Anthericaccce, 



The Allium Tribe, or the Scillete, 



Melanthaceae, 



Tlie genus Agave, 



The twining species of Tillandsia, 



JuncaginaceaJ, 



Eriocaulaceoe, 

 liestiaceas. 



The Cocos nueifera in its indigenous state. 

 The flabellate-froiuled Palmaceac, 

 Equisetaceaj (none recollected at the close 



of our visit). 



Contrary to all expectation, the following Tribes of plants proved 

 rare : DUleniacece, represented solely by DaviUa rugosa; Menispermacece, 

 rare and inconspicuous, three or four species only being met with ; 

 CapparuJacece, with the exception of a submaritime species of Ccq)- 

 jKiris, seldom met with in the indigenous growth ; Malvacew, with the 

 exception of the doubtfully indigenous Sidas and the maritime Paritium, 

 decidedly rare, and the species met with presenting very little beauty; 

 Mimosece, species with delicately-pinnate feathery foliage hardly to 

 be met with ; Cuciirhlfacece, the few species met with being also incon- 

 spicuous whether in flower or in fruit ; GrassuJacea;, represented solely 

 by the Kalanclioe Bmsiliensis, and this hardly having the aspect of 

 an indigenous plant ; Umhelliferce, not, however, rarer than in most 

 Tropical Climates ; Loranthaceo', met with in a few instances, but fxr 

 less prominent than we anticipated; the Tribe Hellantlieai, almost 

 entirely wanting; Oleacece, represented solely by a white-flowered 

 Jdsnunwn, which seemed to be indigenous; large Apocyneous shrubs, 

 the whole family of Apocynacem being somewhat rare for a wooded 

 district in a Tropical Climate; Asc/e//m(7e«', decidedly rare; Convol- 

 vulaceoi, with the exception of the two maritime species, rare in the 

 indigenous vegetable growth, (in striking contrast with the state of 

 things known to prevail on the opposite African coast) ; Acanthacece, 

 rare, especially when compared with Intertropical Africa and Asia; 

 Amaranihacecc, except on the sea-coast, somewhat rare; GJievopodacea, 

 represented solely by the Salicornia of the sea-coast; Laiiracece, very 

 seldom met with; Asaracem, and even the genus ^rM-toZoc/^'a, decidedly 

 rare; the ground species of Orchidacem, rare; Liliacece, represented 

 solely by an Ahtroemeria, a plant perhaps belonging properly to the 

 mountain-region; Dioscoreacece, two or three species only met with; 

 and Juricacew, represented solely by an articulated species of Juncus 

 observed growing in a single locality. 



The vegetable growth is, therefore, especially characterized by the 

 absence of Agaves, Cycadaceas, flabellate-fronded Palms, Apocyneous 

 trees, Myristicacete, and micropetalous long-stamened Myrtaceas ; and 

 by the rarity of Capparidacece, Malvaceas, ConvolvulacetB, and Acan- 



