170 
I Find every Plant Practically New, 
TJcaraima Ennge soared to a heiglit of 3,G90 feet. Tlie rocky wall was 
by no means the snnimit of Humirida, wliicli we had still to climb before 
we could sweep our gaze freely towards the North. 
409. It seemed as if the pure current of air blowing cool around us, 
brought new strength with it, so wonderfully quickly did we feel 
refreshed for the continuation of thei journey. Between the fissures of 
the sandstone layers there sprouted several orchids, namely the former 
species of Epidendrum and a beautiful Odoatoglossum, with which a little 
orchid set with sedge-like leaves was associated, but unfortunately no 
longer in bloom. Besides these orchids, the Marcetia taxifolia DeC, 
decked with rose blossoms, had chosen the crevices and clefts for its 
place of stay : this plant, that was seen here for the first time, I had taken 
for an Erica in the distance. As we reached the real mountain top, a 
broad and glorious highland interrupted by insignificant hills and 
refreshing green clumps of woodland and bush, lay before us in the N.W., 
N., and N.E., until the high mountain ranges again limited the far 
horizon. We followed a course now straight for the North, until a thick 
cluster of arboreal growths attracted my attention fi'om the mountains. 
It was composed of extraordinary- ferns. Their bare stems, several feet 
in circumference, soon branched dichotomously, these 1 tranches tapering 
off at their extremities into long grass-like broad leaves. The absence of 
Idooms and fruits left it doubtful whether these curious plants were to be 
referred to Pandnueac or to Vellozieor. Between small sandstone bould- 
<»rs which were overrun with Eriocavlon and a peculiar greyish-black 
grass, these wonderful shapes were sharply defined against the clear 
ntmosphere. During his ascent of this sandstone range in 18.38 my 
*;rother had discovered a group of these curious plants, which likewise 
then happened to be without fruit or flower. His lively wish to identifv 
these peculiar growths with their blossoms was soon to "be fulfilled. We 
were thus mutually exchanging ideas as to what these plants could really 
be when on reaching the slope, the most delicious scent was wafted over 
to us on the light north wind and our eyes remained fixed in wonder uy»ou 
innumerable stalks studded w'ith white, violet, and purple-red flowers, 
that rose high' above the surrounding bush. They were clumps of the 
beautiful Sohralia among which the i^ohralia EluaJxihac Schomb. ex- 
celled all others: I found flower; stalks to n ft. long. Not only the 
fiohrallae, but also the shrubs and smaller trees Avhich, owing to the 
thick dew, were still trickling with moisture, were all unknown to me. 
Every bush, every shrub, every? tree, was new : if not the family, well, 
certainly the species was. I stood now on the boi ders of a plant zone 
still foreign to me which, as if called up l»y magic, unexpectedly unfolded 
itself in unfamiliar and wonderful forms. I was seized with similar 
astonishment, similar surprise, and similar feelings as those to which 
I succumbed when first landing on the South American continent, except 
that I believed myself no longer transported there, but to some fresh 
portion of the globe between the) Proteaceae of Afi ica, Sumatra, Java, 
etc., and the Melaleucas of East India and Australia. The leather-like 
stiff leaves, the repeatedly tortuous branches, the extraordinary large 
shapes of flower never hitherto j)oted, their gbii'ing colour, all, everything 
