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IN THE CINCHONA FORESTS 279
green leaves, beautifully reticulated with the purple veins, far
excels every other plant seen in the Cinchona woods. I found
hut a single tuft, almost buried in moss on the trunk of a tree.
An Orchid (genus unknown), with thick coriaceous leaves, curiously
spotted with white a rare feature in epiphytal Orchidswas
discovered by Mr. Cross. Very remarkable was an Oncidium,
with numerous peduncles, 10 feet long, twining round one
another and on adjacent plants. Besides the Orchids growing
on trees, a good many species, allied to Spiranthes, grow on the
earth and on decayed logs.
The 28 Orchids gathered in flower are, perhaps, scarcely a
third of the whole number observed. On the slopes of the
Andes some Orchid or other is in flower all through the year, and
almost every species has its distinct epoch for flowering.
Commelynacece. Three species of Commelyna seen, chiefly
near streams and in cultivated places.
Pontederiacece, i. A small creeping plant, with white or very
pale lilac flowers, probably a Pontederia, in moist springy situations
by the Chasuan.
Dioscoreacea. Only the male plant seen of a Dioscorea.
Smilacec?, 2. Species of Smilax, both with roundish stems
and a few prickles.
Gnetacece, i. A Gnetum (G. trinerve, MSS.), apparently
parasitic, and remarkable for its three-ribbed leaves. It is the
first species of this genus I have seen in the hills, though Gneta
are common enough in the plains, and especially on the Rio
where the kernel of the fruit is eaten roasted.
Negro,
Myricacece, i. A wax -bearing Myrica, which descends to
2000 feet on open beaches of the Rio San Antonia, but was not
observed by the Chasuan. The same or a very similar species
grows on wide gravelly beaches of the Pastasa, Morona, and other
rivers which descend the eastern slope of the Andes, and a good
deal of wax is obtained from its fruit, principally by the Jibaro
Indians, who sell it to traders from Quito, Ambato, etc., under
the name of "Cera de laurel " or laurel wax.
Urticacetf, 2. Two or three fruticose 1'ilea- were observed,
but the only plant gathered was a tree 25 feet high (growing by
the Rio San Antonio), which seems a species of Sponin, a genus
placed by some authors in Ulmace;i-.
Moracece. Here and there grows a parasitical Kiciis, but the
species seemed much fewer than I have observed in other similar
localities.
Artocarpece. None gathered, although, as above remark' il.
the tallest tree of the forest belongs to this order. Two CVcropia-
are not infrequent, and another tree, with a tall white trunk and
large hoary pedatifid leaves, looking quite like a species of the