174 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



we proceeded up the steeply-inclined valley. A marked diminution 

 in the variety of plants was soon manifest, the shrubs being fewer, 

 and the country in general less flowery, and more grassy ; with the 

 sward, large-flowered stemless Composites beginning to make their ap- 

 pearance. After travelling " four leagues," we arrived at the hamlet 

 of Culuay ; where all cultivation ceased, at the estimated elevation of 

 ten thousand feet. The width therefore of this botanical region, from 

 the commencement of the rains, as measured along the bottom of the 

 valley, proved about twenty geographical miles. 



Two days afterwards, we visited by the way of the Paramera, the 

 limit of cultivation, several leagues farther North, at Baiios in the 

 Chancay Valley. 



Character and Composition of the Vegetable Growth. On first 

 entering the mountain-region, the unwooded plains of North America 

 were brought unexpectedly to mind, by Daleas making their appear- 

 ance; in company too with Lupines and CastiUeias, and among the 

 grasses an Atlieropogon. Other North American analogies were ob- 

 served, in a Plmca resembling P. villosa, one or more species of Eihes, 

 a Miimdus, and a Sisyrinchium. But the flowers of many representa- 

 tives of Northern Tribes, were strangely different in color ; yellowish- 

 orange in Lobelia, brilliant scarlet in Scutellaria, rose-colored in Slsij- 

 rinchium, very dark blue in Polygala ; and the upper leaves, purple 

 in Castilleia. 



On the other hand, Austral or Chilian analogies proved rare ; 

 but were traceable in the presence of Quinchamalium, Kagenekia, 

 Alonsoas, Momiinas, Adesmias, Polyachirus, a Rumex-leaved twining 

 Helxine ?, and a shrubby Psoralea. 



There were indeed other tribes of plants common to Chili, but 

 belonging rather to the whole mountain-chain of the Andes : as 

 Mutisias, Calceolarias, Tropceolums, Loasece, Aldea, and various Senecioid 

 Composite. — After excluding all the general Cordillera Tribes, various 

 genera remain that seem peculiarly Peruvian ; growing only on the 

 Intertropical portion of the Andes; as among others, the splendid 

 Tacsonias. 



Beyond the presence of Cactacem, BromeUacece, two Boerhaavias, and 

 the scarlet-flowered Lndigofera, Tropical Tribes proper, were very 

 seldom met with; were reduced to Amomum? racemosuvi, a Lantana, 

 two Justiciece, the Peperomias, a purple-flowered gen. Bignoniac, a Com- 

 melina, two Cucurhitaceoe, and a Cleome. 



