THE \T3CtETATI0X OF THE VIRGIN-FOREST. 
113 
Evorj' where, on the hranchos, and on the grmmd, and even from out 
the fissm-es of the bare rock, light ferns and rich moss spring up and 
clothe the decaying trunks with fresh green. Of mosses and ferns, 
e.specially tree-ferns, ive found a greater exiiherance and a larger 
variety, in species as well as in individuals, hi the Southern provinces 
of the empire, Sao Paulo and Parana ; * but for .splendid palms and 
gigantic dicotyledons, the North is decidedly the richer of the two.t 
Without the aid of the pencil it is, indeed, scarcely possible to give 
an adequate idea of the magniflccnce of this vegetation ; especially 
of the manner in which the different fonns are grouped. Wo may see, 
it is true, in onr own hothou.scs, well-trhnmed palms, beautiful orchids 
with their abnormal blossoms, and aroidete with their bright, sapi)y, 
sometimes regularly perforated, leaves ; but how difFerent is this from 
the virgin-forest, wherein Nature, undisturbed by man, has created 
her own prodigies, and whore no narrow iiots separate her childron 
from the matenial soil, and where no dim roof of glass intervenes 
between them and the blue ether ! Nor, in our carefully tended 
hothouses, is the eye ever gratified with such agreeable contrasts as 
are afforded by the silver-grey and rust-brown tints of the decayed 
leaf of the palm or the fern-tree, or tho black bark of the rotting 
trunk, with the blazing scarlet of some heliconia blossom. How 
difficult it must be to give to every plant, especially to orchids, the 
exact quantity of light, warmth and moisture it requires, can bo 
undex-stood onlj" by those who have seen clusters of them hidden in 
the deep shade of tho tree-crowns, while others are exposed to tho 
* lu the forests of tlio pro\'ince of Parana, wRere the Araucaria Brasiliensia and 
palnis and tree-ferns frequently foinn dense boscages, and where tho ferulike zamioe 
with their strangely ornniuented boi'k, whose fossil predecessors we liave probably to 
sook in tho so-called stigmarino, are fonnd everywhere on tho shores of little i-ivuletp, 
we may see a miniature living eoqiy of that antediluvian vegetation whose remains 
we encounter in our coal-mines. On the shores of those rivers, especially at tho 
months of affluents, the formation of charcoal still goes on, though on a minor scale ; 
the immense heaps of leaves and branches being covered by tho high floods with 
saml and mud. 
f Excellent timber for building purposes and eabinot-work, surpassing oiu’ best oak 
in solidity, are (besides several eaueUa and laurus species) Jocaranda piranga 
{Mueha>rium Jirmum), Jacaranda-tan {Machm'ium sekroxylon), .Tacarauda-nna {Balhergia 
nigra), Palisander (corrupted from Palo santo), Tx>e {Tecoma. curialis), Sucujiira {BowdicMa), 
A'iiJiatico {Chrgaophgllttm vinhdko), Paroba (Anpidosparma), Baranna {Melanoxghm 
Prahna), Sajiucaia [LeegtMs grandi flora), Massarauduba (Zueuma prooera), Cedro ( Cedrela 
JiraAlienm), Tajtinhoam {Sylria navaliwn), Mtiira piranga (^Ctosalpinia ecMnata), Angolim 
rosa {Peraltlm erythrinafolia). 
I 
