136 



Notes of a Visit to Mexico, 



Santa Maria, the Ayacahuite, there called Tablets, is still common, 

 and there are equally large trees with those observed on the Pelado 

 in the Sierra of Oaxaca. It was at this station that I at length sue 

 ceeded in obtaining a supply of ripe cones, which have been amply 

 distributed among members of the society, and from which plants 

 have been raised at the garden. It will no doubt prove quite 

 hardy. Following the road at the foot of Xetuh for nearly three 

 miles, I arrived at " Las Cruces," where I found Solandra grandi- 

 flora producing large yellow flowers, and clinging for support to 

 other trees. Las Cruces is merely a place where a few rudely made 

 crosses are fixed by the road side, in order to apprize the traveller, 

 ascending from the lowlands, that he has reached the highest point 

 on the road ; this place is held in great veneration by the Indians, 

 who often adorn the crosses with flowers, or burn incense, which is 

 the produce of an Elaphrium found in the province of Soconusco. 

 Descending gradually from Las Cruces towards the village of Santa 

 Maria, I first found Achimenes pedunculata with a slender naked 

 stem, 1 foot in height, having a few leaves at the top, and seldom 

 hearing more than two flowers. The original plant is scarcely to 

 be recognized in the large fine specimens cultivated in this country. 

 Peristeria Barkeri, Odontoglossum grande, and Rossii, with On- 

 cidium InicoehUum, were also met with near Santa Maria. 



Travelling to the village of Retahluleu, in the lowlands, near 

 the shores of the Pacific Ocean, the road passes along the foot of 

 the mountain Santa Maria, until it descends into the gloomy forests 

 of the temperate region, where the showy Justicia umbrosa, ma- 

 crantha, and inaqucdis, all of which failed to vegetate in the 

 gardens, attracted my attention; there I also found for the first 

 time Qucrcus Slinneri, with its extraordinary acorn; the specimens 

 rose to the height of 50 feet. 



Passing from these temperate parts towards Retahluleu, OrcH- 

 dace* became more plentiful, and Epidendrum Stamfordianum, 

 E. asperum, Fernandezia elegans, Brassavola venosa and Lai** 



