Even at a distance this difference becomes apparent in the irregular outlines of the forest, as here a dome-shaped crown, there a pointed pyramid, rises above the broad flat masses of green, in ever-varying succession. On approaching, differences of colour are added to irregularities of form; for while our forests are destitute of the ornament of flowers, many tropical trees have large blossoms, mixing in thick bunches with the leaves, and often entirely overpowering the verdure of the foliage by their gaudy tints. Thus splendid white, yellow, and red-coloured crowns are mingled with those of darker or more humble hue. When at length, on entering the forest, the single leaves become distinguishable, even the last traces of harmony disappear. Here they are delicately feathered, there lobed: here narrow, there broad: here pointed, there obtuse: here lustrous and fleshy, as if in the full luxuriance of youth; there dark and arid, as if decayed with age. As the wind plays with the foliage, it appears now silvery, now dark green-now of a lively, now of a sombre hue.

从远处望去这种差异在轮廓杂乱的森林里则更加凸显，这里是一个圆形花冠，那里则是一个尖尖的金字塔，它们在广袤平坦的绿地之上高高耸立着，层层叠叠，千变万化。近了看除了轮廓的不规则之外还另有颜色上的差异。欧洲的森林里并没有太多的花儿点点缀缀，而热带的森林里却生长着大朵大朵的花儿和密密麻麻的树叶相互交掺，然而叶儿们的翠绿始终遮盖不住花儿们的艳丽。于是，高贵的白色、黄色和红色的花冠间已然夹杂了较暗和较谦卑的其它颜色。当最后进入森林，一片片树叶变得清晰可见，连最后一丝和谐的痕迹也消失殆尽。这边是精致的羽毛状叶子，那边则是裂了缝的叶子；这边是小巧些的叶子，那边则是大而宽的叶子；这边是尖尖的叶子，那边则是钝钝的叶子；这边是如同正盛开在青春期的叶子，汁儿多且光泽度饱满，那边则是如同已迈入老年的叶子，枯黄干瘪。叶儿们在风爷爷的吹拂下时而银白、时而墨绿、时而活泼，时而低沉。

Variety of vegetation is characteristic of all tropical countries, but nowhere are the varieties so wonderfully brought togetheras on the Mexican plateaux. There the vegetation rises in successive zones from the base of the mountains to heights unparalleled in any other part of the world. It is literally true that the inhabitants, without leaving their native land, may view the vegetable forms of every country on the globe, and pluck nearly every fruit that is found between the Equator and the Arctic Circle.

植被的多样性是所有热带国家的特色，但只有墨西哥高原把所有种类的植被混杂地美不胜收，那里从山脚到世界上任一国家的最高处都连续生长着大片大片的植物。毫不夸张地说，居民们可以不离开自己的国家便能观赏到地球上所有国家的各种植被，不仅如此，他们还能采摘到赤道和北极圈之间的几乎每一种水果。