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---continuation commentary
#28c----
Of the vines that the etching depicts,
the first one on the left, made up of cords twisted above themselves,
is from among the Aristolochiae;
but the ones undivided at the top that farther down seek the ground with
many branches are perhaps Cissi.
The stalk flat almost like a ribbon, grooved along its length, and covered
with a dark-brown bark ought, to judge  from the appearance of its foliage
and flowers, to be ascribed to Schnella
macrostachya. The vines in the middle of the picture that descend
to the trunk of Urostigma in remarkable windings, and wrap around the slender tree to the right,
belong probably to the order of Menispermum or Bignonia; but those
that come straight down in a bunch, I would think are Sapindaceae.
In addition, you will observe a fair number of pseudo-parasites from the Orchideae, Aroideae and Bromeliaceae, on
both trunks and roots. Starting at the left of the picture, from the Orchideae you will discern: a species of Catasetum (perhaps Trulla Lindl.) on the left side of the tree across
which Aristolochia labiosa creeps. To the right, on the same tree bearing Aristolochia, Miltonia
candida opens its magnificent flowers. On a branch of the root
that juts up aslant in the middle of the picture, a certain Oncidium, Maxillaria Harrisoniae and Coryanthes speciosa have settled close together. The trunk half-consumed by rot, on the
right side of the picture, supports Passiflora, Burlingtonia venusta  above
it, surpassing in its flowers' whiteness, another Orchidea with a magnificent thryse of flowers, Cyrtochilum
stellatum and Bifrenaria
aureofulva. Sophronites grandiflora adorns an obliquely rising branch of Urostigma beside a certain Bromeliacea;
other species too from this order live pseudo-parasitically here scattered
about. From the palms, two slender trunks of Geonoma rise up; from the Aroideae,
several Anthuria with
undivided and digitate leaves.
Perhaps this picture displays for the viewer the great moment of this
nature, and enables him to perceive that just a few trees offer, through
many days, a rich opportunity for investigation.
#28 of 42 expedition commentaries
 
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