PERUVIAN REGIONS. 



175 



Of Families of plants not met with in Lower Peru, the following 

 made their appearance with the rains, in the mountain-region : 



Capparidace^, Cucurbitacese, Urticacese, 



Linaceae, Lobeliaceae, the genus Ephedra, 



Rosacese, Phytolaccaceae, Iridaceae, and 



Crassulacese, the genus Quinchamalium, the genus Lycopodium. 



Throughout the region, the prevailing families of plants appeared 

 to be seven ; occurring in the following order of frequency : 



1. Compositce. In great profusion; and including an unusual variety 

 of genera and species. 



2. Graminaceoe, or grasses. Frequent throughout ; and predomina- 

 ting over all other tribes, towards the upper margin of the region. 



3. LeguminoscB. In very considerable variety ; but the species in 

 general, either herbaceous or subherbaceous. 



4. Rhmanthacem. Holding the fourth place, chiefly on account of 

 the profusion of Calceolarias ; but Bartsiece were also frequent. 



5. SolanacecB. Yet more abundant than in Lower Peru ; occurring 

 in perhaps a greater variety of forms or genera than in any other 

 part of the globe. 



6. Labiatoe. The species, unlike those of Chili, chiefly herbaceous. 



7. Bromeliacece. Abounding in the lower portion of the region. 



Next after the above seven, Cactacece were perhaps the most abun- 

 dant Tribe ; especially in the lower portion of the region, as already 

 intimated. Valerianacece also abounded ; together with Amaraiithacece, 

 Polijgalacem, Loasem, Lobeliacece, Ni/cfaginacew, and Oxalidacece. 



Of Cryptogamous plants, serving as a test or gauge of the humidity 

 of climate: Ferns were now frequent, and in considerable variety, but 

 the species were all small, and confined chiefly to the clefts of rocks ; a 

 Lycopodium, resembling L. rupestre, made its appearance, growing 

 upon rocks exposed to the sun ; Musci or mosses, and Hepaiicce, were 

 much more frequent than in Lower Peru ; Licheiis seemed also in fair 

 proportion ; and in regard to the larger species of Fimgi, as far as I 

 could recollect (when writing my journal), they are not so completely 

 excluded as from the Desert-region below. 



Negative Characters. Orcliidacece continued rare ; two species 

 only were met with, both of them growing on the ground. Cype- 

 raceoe, and especially Sclrpeoe, were much rarer than in Lower Peru : 

 doubtless, owing in part to the extremely small proportion of marshy 

 ground. 



