284 



DISTRlBtrTlON OP PLANTS. 



manner are crowned with a terminal tuft of large leaves. Some 

 examples of this mode of growth occurred in the Brazilian forest; 

 faintly foreshadowing the display now presented in all directions, by 

 a PoJyscias, a gen. Elatostemoid, a long-stipuled Coffeac, and a very 

 remarkable Morindoid Coffeac, with large pendent capitula of almost 

 Crinum-like flowers. — Normal siirubs were not abundant : but one or 

 more species of Piper were met with, together with various Coff'eacece, 

 and two or three remarkable Gt/iiandnis ; all, when full-grown, 

 seldom less than ten feet high, as though under an enlarged stand- 

 ard of development. The intervals between the sterns of shrubs 

 and trees, being occupied by large Ftvns, in great variety and luxu- 

 riance. 



Beneath, in the intervals between the tufts of large ferns, a few 

 humble and tenderly herbaceous plants were occasionally met with : 

 as, three or four Elatostemas ; and especially, a variety of ground 

 Orcliidacece, having greenish, and for tiie most part, inconspicuous 

 flowers ; but the etioled gen. Orchidac, devoid in all parts of the 

 slightest tinge of green, so as to be adapted to the deepest shade, was 

 met with only on the other islands of the group. — -Again, in the deep 

 shade beneath the large ferns, the general growth of diminutive 

 Cryptogamous plants was unusually luxuriant, and even compara- 

 tively gigantic: consisting of a Hyinenophyllam, eighteen inches high; 

 a Tricliomanes, a foot high, everywhere abundant ; a second large Tri- 

 cliomanes, abundantly intermingled, and distinguished by its fascicled 

 stems; a hypnoid Lycopodiwn, one to two feet high; and a Tricho- 

 manes-liis^e Asplenioid. : but humble species of Trichomanes were also 

 present; together with a profusion Hepaticm and 3Ios-ses, as in other 

 portions of the Samoan forest; a Hypnum? rambling, Tillandsia-like, 

 among the branches of shrubs ; and Jangertnanuias, in moist situations 

 overrunning living leaves. Some fine Licltens, nowhere abundant, 

 were interspersed ; and large-sized Fungi were observed to be both 

 frequent and in very considerable variety. 



Mountain-crests. The only mountain-ridges I had the opportunity 

 of visiting, were on Tutuila; the highest peak there being only " twenty- 

 three hundred and twenty-seven feet" above the sea. On one of my 

 excursions, I approached within a fourth of a mile, and three hun- 

 dred feet vertically, of this highest point ; and much to my surprise, 

 found the surface occupied in great part by a Pandanus, perhaps 

 a peculiar species; a decumbent Freycinetia also abounded; two 



