206 



MEMOIRS OF THE ^"E^V YORK BOTA^'ICAL GAKDEN 



and La Paz rivers unite to form the Bopi, we remained for some 

 time, awaiting rafts. Unfortunately, this occurred during the 

 dry season and the conditions were extremely arid at this point, 

 so that but few specimens were obtained. From Espia, the re- 

 mainder of the journey was entirely by water, until we reached 

 Rurrenabaque, ha\dng an altitude of about 1,000 feet, and lying 

 among the foothills at the eastern base of the Andes. The flora 

 of the stupendous mountains amidst which this river winds its 

 tortuous course is wonderfully rich and must contain hundreds 

 of unknown j^lants, but owing to the forced rapidity of this por- 

 tion of our journey, our collections had to be confined almo?t 

 wholly to the river margin. At Huachi, near the head of the 

 Beni River, we made a stop of several weeks and collected ener- 

 getically, not only in the river valley, but among the neighboring 

 mountains. A very rich and interesting collection was here ob- 

 tained. The journey thence to Rurrenabaque was again a rapid 

 one, but at the latter point, we stayed for many weeks and made 

 large collections. From here an overland journey was made to 

 Lake Rogagua, in the midst of the pampas, and about midway 

 between the Beni and the Mamore Rivers. This trip occui)ied 

 the latter part of October. Although it was early spring and 

 flowering plants were not abundant, we collected industriously, 

 both going and returning. Arrived again at Rurrenabaque, we 

 found the Xovember flora exceedingly rich and attractive, and 

 accumulated a large collection. Considering the fact that I had 

 collected extensively in this region in 1886, that Mr. Bang had 

 spent much time there during many seasons, sending me large 

 numbers of his plants, and that Mr. AVilliams had also done con- 

 siderable work in the same region, I was hardly prepared to find 

 the collections made there on this occasion presenting so large a 

 proportion of novelties as is the case. It is my opinion that we 

 do not yet know much more than half of the flowering plants of 

 that locality. 



After my separation from the party, in December, Dr. "White 

 and Mr. Cardenas continued collecting. They also made impor- 

 tant journeys to Tumapasa and Ixiamas, and did considerable 

 collecting on the lower Beni and its tributaries in January' and 

 February of 1922. 



