4 
constructed of rude trunks, and covered with Palm leaves, and, though open at the sides, yet it affords some pro 
tection against the rain, in a spot, where, in the absence of this shed, the wayfarer would have to pass the cool 
nights without any shelter against the inclemencies of the sky. The spot is called El Gallego. Immense steeply 
sloping mountain walls here form a valley of wonderful grandeur. Majestic Wax-palms+ rise from the depth 
breaking through the dark foliage of the Oak-forest+. The Oreodoxa frigida+ is here of a more slender growth 
than in the lower parts ; its fronds however are not so rich and luxuriant. Alpinias"^, Escallonia myrtilloides 
E. Tubar (Escalloniaceae),’ Irigonia sericea (Trigoniaceae), Thibaudia scabriuscula and Th. longifolia (Vac- 
cineae), Lycium gesnerioides, the beautiful shrub-like ilex-leaved Desfontainia splendens (Solaneae)^ and 
Bacharis polygalaefolia (Compositae)^ cover the declivities with an abundance of shining green leaves and with a 
beautiful variety of blossoms. Tree-ferns'*' even here like to be shaded by larger trees. A species, nearly 
akin to our wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca), grows on the ground with Klaprothia menzelioides (Loasefe)^ 
and Rubia scabra (Rubiaceas), while the graceful Passiflora glauca is climbing on the shrubs. 
It is difficult, while staying in these lonely parts, to procure the necessary provender for the mules. They 
are usually left to themselves, two bars being drawn across the road at some hundred yards distance on each 
side from the shed, to prevent their running away. Through the forest they cannot escape, the underwood 
being too dense. The scanty grass on each side of the road is soon consumed, and they eat but reluctantly 
the leaves of the Chusquea scandens and some Palms, which the muleteers cut for them. Here companies of 
native travellers, coming from opposite directions, often meet in the evening. A large fire is then lighted 
outside the shed, and travellers have an opportunity of displaying their talents for the culinary art. Rice, 
Bananas, Potatoes, and some game shot on the road form the ingredients of the repast, and savoury Cocoa 
refreshes the weary wanderer. 
The groups of dark figures, which, chilly, and closely wrapped in their large Ponchos encircle the fire, 
present a highly picturesque appearance. The bold outlines of the surrounding forest stand out darkly 
against the sky, and the white trunks of the Wax-palm, glittering in the reflex of the reddish flame, are set off 
brilliantly by the darker sky and foliage. 
Ad fol. 7. 
Oaks and tree-ferns at a height o/*6500 (Par.') feet. 
The Quindiu mountains greatly abound in tree-ferns. In spots, particularly favourable to their develop- 
ment, viz. on moist, shady declivities, most different species of them are often seen together on a small 
space of ground. Here a slim, naked trunk rises to a considerable height, adorned with a few downbent, 
tapering fronds, whose leatherlike, finely designed pinnuls are of a dark hue (Cibotium^, undescribed species) ; 
theie, the shorter trunk, covered with brown hbres is furnished with a rich dense crest of decompound 
fronds, of a beautiful light green colour (Alsophila’*'). In some species the fronds adhere to the trunk long 
after having withered, forming closely beneath the crest, a thick dark reddish tuft, with which the light 
green of the younger shoots strikingly contrasts. In others, the young shoots are not unlike crosiers in their 
appearance (Balantium'*'). 
A strong physiognomical contrast to the light, manifoldly pinnated foliage of the Ferns is formed by the 
heavy, broad leaves of the Cecropia^, which, adhering to the tops of thin branches, protrude here and there 
through the foliage of Oaks"*" and Cinchonaceae (Cinchona pubescens). 
The trunks in these regions are covered with Fabronia polycarpa, Orthotrichum longirostrum (true 
Mosses)^ and Anthurium myosuroides (Aroideffi), while Passiflorae (P. longipes, P. difformis) are ramping on 
low shrubs. The Carica-species'*' with their indented leaves have a peculiar growth, being particularly 
striking where they appear among Podocarpus (Coniferae), Ocotea mollis (Laurineae),® Fuchsia Quinduensis 
(Onagreffi), and other small-leaved bushes. A small Palm with broad pinnae (Chamaedorea'*') twines its thin 
annulated stem through the shrub, which here chiefly consists of Witheringia rhomboidea and W. riparia 
(Solane*), Aralia Quinduensis (Araliaceae,)'* and the winding Negretia mollis (Papilionaceae),''’ while the ground is 
covered with Peperomia foliosa (Piperacea),” Olyra arundinacea (Gramineae),^^ Salvia sagittata (Labiate), Luzula 
gigantea (Junceffi),'^ Espeletia grandiflora, Eupatorium fuliginosum (Compositae),’^ Ranunculus Bonplandianus 
(Ranunculaceae),'® and some shrubby Gesneriaceae (Besleria tricolor, Besleria sanguinea). A new species of 
Scrophularineffi, nearly akin to our Veronica serpyllifolia, also grows here. 
1 Kunth, Synops. pi. vol. iv. p. 390 . ^ p. 373. » 4 ibij. p. 375, s ibid. p. 391 . « Ibid. p. 379 . ^ ibid. 
p.347. 8Ibid. p. 363 . aibid. p, 381 , “ Ibid, p, 395 . 11 Ibid. p. 349. iMbid. p. 353. ibid. p. 353. ^ Ibid. p. 376. 
Ibid. p. 382 , 
