82 
Botanical Reminiscences, 
not alone to trees but also to shrubs ; in both, complete 
development of the single parts and the several organs take 
place ; the plant arrives at perfection without being inter- 
rupted in development by adverse influences, and this is 
plainly shown by the leaves, which are full of sap, as well as 
by the superabundance of the bright-colored flowers, which 
for the most part are red, yellow, or violet. As on the 
southern part of the South American continent, where the 
Cryptogamic plants and grasses are found in the form of trees, 
the European botanist is made aware in a most convincing 
manner that he has entered another zone. The bark on most 
of the trees is generally smooth, seldom rough or lacerated, 
which no doubt is to be accounted for by the atmospherical 
changes being less sudden and influential than in the north. 
The same is also observed in regard to the surface of the 
leaves, for example, the hairy-like appearance, which is only 
of limited extent in certain species, viz., the Meladomaceae, 
and others, and also only in certain localities, especially the 
savannas, in which it is considered characteristic. The cir- 
cumference and shape of the leaves, their basis, their texture, 
are variously affected by locality ; also the greater or less 
firmness of texture of the timber and alburnum, the propor- 
tion of resin escaping from the trees containing it, viz., 
Amyrideae, Humiriaceae^ Caesalpineae, which is greater on hilly 
or stony places than it is on the level near the coast. 
If we now review the several families, we find then that 
the flora of British Guiana is characterized by the remarkable 
scarcity of Umhelliferae^ and by the almost entire exclusion of 
Crueiferae, Predominant are the Leguminosae, Ruhiaceae, 
Myrtaceae, Melastomaceae, Eiiphorhiaceae, Laurineae, Malpig- 
hiaceae, Orchideae, and Filices. The flowers are also de- 
veloped at different periods in the several localities, 
according to the latitude. Trees, shrubs, and herbs, 
which bloom as early as April in the 1st and 2nd de- 
gree of north latitude, are only seen in perfect blossom 
in November and December, in the 5th or 6th degree. 
The same influence is exercised also by locality on the develop- 
ment of the flowers as to size, which in the flora of 
British Guiana (if we except some Bombaceae, as CaroUneay 
Bombax, Clusiaceae, as Clusia, Nymphaeaceae, as Victoria^ and 
several Orchids)^ by no means equals that of plants of 
other tropical zones, while they are also excelled in the 
extraordinary enamel of their colors, though hardly equalled 
