124 



Notes of a Visit to Mexico, 



On the barren hills of Zimapan, Pinus Llaveana, forming a tree 

 15 feet high, was at this time (November) covered with small green 

 cones, which are two years in coming to maturity ; Berberis 

 gracilis, with its slender stem and red leaf-stalks, and Berberis 

 pallida have been found at this station, as well as near the 

 hot springs of Atotonilco el grande. In the ravine of Encarnacion 

 I found another new species of Garrya, G. macrophylla, which 

 from its large foliage is by far the handsomest kind; but unfor- 

 tunately the few seeds I found did not grow. Juglans nigra was 

 found in the same locality. Near the Company's farm of " Guajo- 

 lote " I found several sorts of pines, among which P. patula, from 

 its smooth slender stem and valuable timber, particularly attracted 

 my attention. Near the small village of Apulco I found Berberis 

 lance olata and Pinus apulcensis, and along the road Cupressus 

 thurifera forms a stately tree 120 feet high. From this latter sta- 

 tion the descent was very rapid to a place called " El Banco," 

 probably so named in allusion to the bank or ledge of rock over 

 which one has to pass at the imminent risk of falling into the 

 ravine below, in order to reach the small village of San Cornelio. 

 The descent to this place is very interesting ; at every step there 

 is some change, the noble Tree fern (Cyathea mexicana) makes its 

 appearance there ; Lopezia lineata, Alstonia ciliata, Lophospermum 

 scandens, Cobcea stipularis, Gauliheria nitida, were all in full 

 flower. It was in company with those that I found the noble 

 Habrothamnus fasciculatus of Schlechtendahl, the seeds of which I 

 was unable to procure ; it was a very fine shrub about five feet 

 high. It has since been raised in Belgium, and a fresh specimen in 

 flower, communicated by Mr. Van Houtte, Nurseryman of Ghent, 

 has furnished with the assistance of one of my dried specimens the 

 means of preparing the accompanying figure of one of the gayest 

 plants of the Mexican Flora. 



By the end of January, 1839, instructions reached me to proceed 

 to Guatemala. I, therefore despatched the collection formed at 



