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282 NOTES OF A BOTANIST
diminish rapidly in number and variety as we ascend the hills,
and beyond the warm region of the Andes the scandent species
entirely disappear ; but a Bunchosia (probably B. Armeniacd)
a tree about the size of our pear trees ascends high into the
temperate region. On the hills which slope down to the left
margin of the Pastasa this tree grows up to 8000 feet, and in
some places forms large continuous patches, unmixed with any
other tree. The edible, though rather insipid drupes, as large
as a peach, are exposed for sale in large quantities in Ambato
and the adjacent towns, under the name of " ciruelo de fraile ''
or friar's plum. . . .
species of the anomalous genus
Tertistromiaceff, i. Two -
. . .
Saurauja form trees of about 30 feet, and are conspicuous from
their abundance, from their large lanceolate serrated leaves, and
axillary panicles of white flowers resembling those of Fragaria
vesca. One of the two, with ferrugino-tomentose leaves, seems
quite the same as I have gathered on Tunguragua up to 7000
feet (PL Exs. 5089). A Freziera descends on the banks of the
Rio San Antonio to 2300 feet. . . .
Chisiacea, 3. One of them, a Clusia, abundant and ornamental
from its numerous rose-coloured flowers, but the plants
nearly all males. . . . Two or three other Clusiae were seen, not
in flower or fruit.
Marcgraviacea, i. A Norantea, the same as that gathered in
the Bark woods of Puma-cocha. Mangravia umbellata is very
abundant, and climbs to the tops of the loftiest trees.
Anonacece, 2. The one a Guatteria, rather scarce at about
3000 feet, the greatest elevation at which I have ever observed
the genus the other a small ; Anona, also scarce edible fruit, called "cabeza de
it bears an
;
negro," the size of an orange but
longer than broad. This order has its chief site in the hot plains.
Ericec?., Subordo Vacciniacete, 6.
and one Macleania,
Four Vaccinia, one Thibaudia,
all epiphytal shrubs. One of the Vaccinia,
with fleshy rose- or blood-coloured leaves, densely (almost teretely)
imbricated on the branches, and with slender red flowers in their
axils, looked very pretty on the old trees ; but the Thibaudia was
still more ornamental, from the profusion of its large tubular
flowers calyx and corolla at first yellow, turning
red after the
bursting of the anthers, and persisting a long time ; they unfor-
tunately turn black in drying, so that my specimens give no idea
of their beauty. In Thibaudia we have a remarkable example
of a genus which ascends from the very plain (where, however,
it is very scarce) nearly to the extreme limit of lignescent
vegetation. Ericeae, on the contrary, according to my observa-
tions, do not descend lower than 6000 feet, on the equator.
Amvridece. Two small trees, of the genus Icica, were seen
in flower ; and some of the tallest trees with pinnate leaves,