XXI 
IN THE CINCHONA FORESTS 
279 
green leaves, beautifully reticulated with the purple veins, far 
excels every other plant seen in the Cinchona woods. I found 
but a single tuft, almost buried in moss on the trunk of a tree. 
An Orchid (genus unknown), with thick coriaceous leaves, curi- 
ously spotted with white — a rare feature in epiphytal Orchids — 
was discovered by Mr. Cross. Very remarkable w^as an Oncidium, 
with numerous peduncles, 10 feet long, twining round one 
another and on adjacent plants. Besides the Orchids growing 
on trees, a good many species, allied to Spiranthes, grow on the 
earth and on decayed logs. 
The 28 Orchids gathered in flower are, perhaps, scarcely a 
third of the whole number observed. On the slopes of the 
Andes some Orchid or other is in flower all through the year, and 
almost every species has its distinct epoch for flowering. 
Commelynacece. — Three species of Commelyna seen, chiefly 
near streams and in cultivated places. 
Fo/itedertacecE, i. — A small creeping plant, wdth white or very 
pale lilac flowers, probably a Pontederia, in moist springy situations 
by the Chasuan. 
Dioscoreacea.~On\y the male plant seen of a Dioscorea. 
Smilacece, 2. — Species of Smilax, both with roundish stems 
and a few prickles. 
Gnetacece, i. — A Gnetum {G. trinerve^ MSS.), apparently 
parasitic, and remarkable for its three-ribbed leaves. It is the 
first species of this genus I have seen in the hills, though Gneta 
are common enough in the plains, and especially on the Rio 
Negro, where the kernel of the fruit is eaten roasted. 
Afyrkacece, i. — A wax- bearing Myrica, which descends to 
2000 feet on open beaches of the Rio San Antonia, but was not 
observed by the Chasuan. The same or a very similar species 
grows on wide gravelly beaches of the Pastasa, Morona, and other 
rivers which descend the eastern slope of the Andes, and a good 
deal of wax is obtained from its fruit, principally by the Jibaro 
Indians, who sell it to traders from Quito, Ambato, etc., under 
the name of "Cera de laurel" or laurel wax. 
UrticacecB^ 2. — Two or three fruticose Pileas w^ere observed, 
but the only plant gathered was a tree 25 feet high (growing by 
the Rio San Antonio), which seems a species of Sponia, a genus 
placed by some authors in Ulmaceae. 
Moracece. — Here and there grows a parasitical Ficus, but the 
species seemed much fewer than I have observed in other similar 
localities. 
Artocarpe(B. — None gathered, although, as above remarked, 
the tallest tree of the forest belongs to this order. Two Cecropiae 
are not infrequent, and another tree, with a tall white trunk and 
large hoary pedatifid leaves, looking quite like a species of the 
