Cerro de la Neblina, Amazonas, Venezuela

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Abstract
Narrative of the New York Botanical Garden''s exploration into the sandstone-mountain region of southern Venezuela, and the ascent of Cerro de la Neblina, preceded by a historical account of Spruce''s 1853 exploration in the region. Through aerial reconnaissance the extent of the escarpment was determined and an approach route was mapped which after 15 days travel by boat and foot trails permitted the first view of the Cerro from a ridge at 2100 feet. The final ascent to the summit at 5850 feet was accomplished after 10 days. The cumbre flora of la Neblina is closely related to that of Cerro Duida but comprises fewer species and is less diversified; Theaceae, Rapateaceae, Melastomaceae, Rubiaceae, and Sarraceniaceae are the most conspicuous families. More than half of the species are estimated to be endemic to la Neblina. At 5500 feet, the bush is dominated by a tree species of Bonnetia (Theaceae) with subordinate woody members of Stenopadus (Compositae). Tyleria (Ochnaceae), Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae), Ilex retusa and other Ilex species (Aquifoliaceae). Clusia and Oedomatopus (Guttiferae), Graffenrieda and Tibouchina (Melastomaceae), Conomorpha lepidota (Myrsinaceae), Dydimopanax (Araliaceae), Sipapoa (Malpighiaceae), Psychotria and Retinophyllum(Rubiaceae), and Euterpe (Palmae). Prominent herbaceous plants are Macro -centrum pus ilium (Melastomaceae), two species of Xyris (Xyridaceae), two of Stegolepis (Rapataceae). Heliamphora (Sarraceniacea), Eupatorium (Compositae) and Brocchinia hechtioides. and an unrecognized genus of the Bromeliaceae. Cladonia rangiferina forms a close ground cover. Higher slopes between 6200 and 6700 feet support an open savanna, a second major physiognomic type. This open heath-like, dense, knee[long dash]to waist-high cover reaches for miles. The dominant plant is a depressed Bonnetia; codominant are two species of Stegolepis Stenopadus, Tyleria, Heliamphora and a sundew. The escarpment edges and cliffs form a third major habitat; dominant plants are the giant bromeliad (Brocchinia hechtioides), Selaginellas, and a third species of Stegolepis. The high mixed rain forest of the mountain slopes and talus is complex in structure and great number of species, and is the least adequately understood. The vegetation of the summit of the Cerro de la Neblina indicates a higher rate of endemism than is know to exist on any of the other tabular mountains but in general origins and affinities common with that of the central body of the Guayana Highland. The report is terminated by a brief "Notes on the Geology" and "Notes on the Climate".

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