282 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
diminish rapidly in number and variety as we ascend the hills, 
and beyond the warm region of the Andes the scandent species 
entirely disappear ; but a Bunchosia (probably B. Arme?iiaca) — 
a tree about the size of our pear trees — ascends high into the 
temperate region. On the hills which slope down to the left 
margin of the Pastasa this tree grows up to 8000 feet, and in 
some places forms large continuous patches, unmixed with any 
other tree. The edible, though rather insipid drupes, as large 
as a peach, are exposed for sale in large quantities in Ambato 
and the adjacent towns, under the name of "ciruelo de fraile " 
or friar's plum. . . . 
Ternstrdmiacece^ i. — . . . Two species of the anomalous genus 
Saurauja form trees of about 30 feet, and are conspicuous from 
their abundance, from their large lanceolate serrated leaves, and 
axillary panicles of white flowers resembhng those of Fragaria 
vesca. One of the two, with ferrugino-tomentose leaves, seems 
quite the same as I have gathered on Tunguragua up to 7000 
feet (PI. Exs. 5089). A Freziera descends on the banks of the 
Rio San Antonio to 2300 feet. . . . 
CliisiacecE^ 3. — One of them, a Clusia, abundant and orna- 
mental from its numerous rose-coloured flowers, but the plants 
nearly all males. . . . Two or three other Clusiae were seen, not 
in flower or fruit. 
Marcgraviacece, i. — A Norantea, the same as that gathered in 
the Bark woods of Puma-cocha. Marcgravia umbellata is very 
abundant, and climbs to the tops of the loftiest trees. 
AnonacecE, 2. — The one a Guatteria, rather scarce at about 
3000 feet, the greatest elevation at which I have ever observed 
the genus ; the other a small Anona, also scarce ; it bears an 
edible fruit, called "cabeza de negro," the size of an orange but 
longer than broad. This order has its chief site in the hot plains. 
FricecE, Subordo Vacciniacecs, 6. — Four Vaccinia, one Thibaudia, 
and one Macleania, all epiphytal shrubs. One of the Vaccinia, 
with fleshy rose- or blood-coloured leaves, densely (almost teretely) 
imbricated on the branches, and with slender red flowers in their 
axils, looked very pretty on the old trees ; but the Thibaudia was 
still more ornamental, from the profusion of its large tubular 
flowers — calyx and corolla at first yellow, turning red after the 
bursting of the anthers, and persisting a long time ; they unfor- 
tunately turn black in drying, so that my specimens give no idea 
of their beauty. In Thibaudia we have a remarkable example 
of a genus which ascends from the very plain (where, however, 
it is very scarce) nearly to the extreme limit of lignescent 
vegetation. Ericeae, on the contrary, according to my observa- 
tions, do not descend lower than 6000 feet, on the equator. 
Amyridece. — Two small trees, of the genus Icica, were seen 
in flower ; and some of the tallest trees with pinnate leaves, 
