By Mr. Theodore Hartweg. 



141 



not plentifully, Brassavola glauca, with large white lip and 

 slightly scented flowers, growing in company with Cyrtochilum 

 maculatum var., Russelianum, Epidendrum varicosum, and fragrans, 

 Brassia guttata and brachiata, the latter remarkable for its long 

 narrow sepals spotted with brown. On the steep rocks overhang- 

 ing the rivulet the " Papelillo" {Caloseris rupestris Benth.) with 

 long panicle and large leaves which are white underneath, formed 

 a beautiful object. The stem of this plant is covered with 

 a yellowish wool, which is used as a substitute for tinder. The 

 woods about this place are composed of evergreen Oaks, and espe- 

 cially of Pinus oocarpoides, which attains the height of 50 feet ; 

 the chief range of this is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, and 

 though it descends nearly to the shore of the Bay of Honduras, it 

 never occurs on the South coast, or higher than 5,000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. It is to be feared that it will prove too tender 

 for English gardens. The same may be said of Pinus tenuifolia, 

 which I found in ravines east of Guatemala, and on the mountains 

 of Choacus in the province of Vera Paz, only a few hundred feet 

 higher than Pinus oocarpoides. In the more sheltered places I 

 often found this 100 feet in height and from 3 to 4± feet in diameter 

 at the base. Scarcely a shrub or herbaceous plant is found in these 

 Pine tracts. 



On an excursion to the lowlands bordering on the Pacific Ocean, 

 the road led me through the valley of Guatemala, and after a short 

 but rather steep descent, I passed the lake of Amatitlan, and 

 entered the village of the same name. The dry atmosphere and 

 and soil are not favourable to much variety in the vegetation, but 

 are well adapted to the cochineal which is here produced in great 

 abundance and of the finest quality. Following the gradual 

 descent, and entering shaded woods, I met with Stanhopea saccata, 

 Trichopilia tortilis, Mormodcs lineatum, the latter scenting the air 

 with its fragrant flowers, and Cycnoches ventricosum. The latter, now 

 well known for its tendency to sport never did so as far as I could 



