2 
The vegetation of the Quindiu is declared to be one of the most vigorous, even by such travellers as are 
acquainted with other parts of the tropics. 'I’he landscape physiognomy acquires a special peculiarity by two 
species of Palms, rising high up the mountains ; these are the Wax-palm (Ceroxylon Andicola)’ and the Oreodoxa 
frigida,^ a Palmetto. The former is perhaps the tallest species of Palm known ; it forms straight trunks of 
180 Paris (10 Paris feet equal to 10 feet, inches English) feet high,^ which on their surface produce 
an exsudation of white dust; this, being scraped off and melted, yields a wax fit for giving light. This Palm, 
in dense forests, intermixed with leaved wood, attains a height of 9100 (Par.) feet above the level of the sea,^ 
while the lower boundary of the perpetual snow, in these valleys of the Andes, is at 14640 (Par.) feet.^ 
The eye, if not veiled by the darkness of the forest, loves to look down the sunny dells, or to pursue 
the light clouds as they gather of an evening in the valleys, move along the declivities and are caught by lofty 
Palms. In the higher regions of the mountains the Wax-palm forms forests of a great extent, and, far as the 
eye can reach, the mighty ridges are here clothed with its white trunks, which, bursting forth from amidst the 
dark leafy roof of dicotyledonic trees afford the beautiful sight “ of a forest above a forest.” 
[Observation : The plants marked in the text with, a 1' may he identified by referring to the index and the plate accompanying it.] 
Ad fol. 2. 
A hollow above the Quehrada del Toche, about feet absolute height. 
Moisture and shade, such as are met with in a narrow ravine, produce a particularly fresh and luxuriant 
vegetation. Here Heliconias'f grow in great vigour; between them, tall Solanums^, bearing leaves of three 
feet length. The slender Palmetto, Oreodoxa frigida+, too, loves these shady spots and their trunks are thickly 
covered with the climbing grass, the Chusquea scandens^ (BambuseEe)\ The delicate Palms are shaded by 
the denser foliage of Lecythis dubia+ and other dicotyledonic trees. Besides the Solanums, Thevetias+ and 
gigantic Aroideas+ are found growing, and here and there a fern-tree (Alsophila) lifts its curly head. 
Everywhere creepers are ramping in the loftiest trees, and hanging down in graceful tendrils. In the dark 
ravine a deep silence prevails, broken only by the loud dropping of water from the trees ; for these forests are 
real condensators of the atmospheric moisture, and, even in sunny weather, are in a constant state of humidity, 
w'hereby a beautifully fresh and brilliant colouring is produced. 
On the ground are seen, in a motley confusion, shrublike Crotons (Euphorbiaceae), Ocotea mollis, O. 
macrophylla (Laurineae)," Citrosma macrophyllum (Monimieae),' Ardisias (Myrsineas),® Symplocos (Styracinece)," 
Aralia Quinduensis (Araliaceag),'“ Berberis Quinduensis (Berberideae)," Schmidelia occidentalis (Sapindaceae)," 
Fuchsia Quinduensis (Onagreae),'® several Melastomas, for instance Melastoma coronatum, and Rhexias (Mela- 
stomaceae); — and herblike — several species of the Salvia genus (Labiatae), Beslerias (Gesneriaceae), Mutisia 
grandiflora, Espeletia grandiflora (Compositae),'" Oxalis hedysaroides, O. Schraderiana and O. scandens 
(Oxalideae) and Monina parviflora (Polygaleae).'’ 
Ad fol. 3. 
Primeval forest at an elevation of about 7000 [Par.) feet ; in the distance Mount Tolima. 
Mount Tolima, 17280 (Par.) feet high,'® is the culminating point of the Quindiu mountains, and, unless 
the Sierra nevada de Santa Marta prove higher, the most elevated summit north of the equator in America. 
Its conical shape shows it to be a volcano, and its activity as such is still in the memory of the inhabitants 
of Ibague ; even to this day it is said, according to the statements of the Indians, who collect brimstone 
by the sides of the mountain, to exhale vapours from some of its fissures. — The sight of the perpetual 
snow makes a particularly strong impression, where it is seen in contrast to the abundance of tropical 
vegetation. Thus, Mount Tolima, where the forest suddenly begins to clear, appears as in a frame of 
most luxuriant plants. The dazzling whiteness of the large masses of snow, and the deeply saturated verdure 
of the foliage, the glaring fields of ice and the exuberance of aboriginal forest, as here viewed at one glance, 
form the most striking contrasts. 
^ Kunth, Synopsis plantarum eequinoctialium orbis novi. vol. iv. p. 355, ^ Baron A, Humboldt, Aspects of Nature, translated 
by Mr. Sabine, two vols. in one. London, 1849, vol. ii. p. 139. ® Ibid. p. 128, ^ Baron A. Humboldt, Observations astronomiques, 
vol. I, p. 302. ^ Baron A. Humboldt, Aspects of Nature, vol. ii. p. 183. — Kunth, Synops. pi. vol. iv. p. 353. ® Kunth, Synops, 
vol. IV. p. 363. 7 Ibid. p. 364. ^ ibid. p. 373. ^ Ibid. p. 373. Ibid. p. 381. Ibid. p. 383. Ibid. p. 383. Ibid, 
p. 390. Ibid, p. 375 , 378 . Ibid. p. 389. Baron A. Humboldt, Observations astronomiques, vol. i. p. 302. 
