22 МВ. CHARLES BARTER ON THE 
occurs ; yet about the estuaries of small streams, Avicennia rhizo- 
phora and Pandanus candelabrum occur. The woods evince almost 
perpetual moisture ; climbing Aroidee, with immense orchids and 
ferns, occur; scarcely any of the orchids are interesting. Their 
flowers are insignificant, comprising such genera as Angrecum, 
Bolbophyllum, Polystachya. Of ferns, the most common are Pla- 
tyceriwm Stemaria (very large), Drymaria coronans, D. vulgaris, 
D. viridis, Asplenium crenulatum, A. like lucidum, Mertensia gigan- 
tea, Lygodium scandens, Gymnogramma Calomelanos, Angiopteris 
evecta, Acrostichum aureum, Lastrea mollis, L. invisa, Teniopteris. 
Lastrea, Asplenium, Adiantum Diplaziwm, Gymnopteris, Tricho- 
manes, are largely represented. An Acrostichwm resembling Steno- 
chlena scandens is very abundant, adhering to the trunks of trees 
like ivy. Zycopodiwms are abundant, L. dendroidewn especially, in 
loamy soil. L. Phlegmaria, epiphytical on trees, hanging down 
often a yard in length, and very beautiful. 
I obtained a sprinkling of mosses, chiefly of Hypnum, some 
Hepaties, and a few curious Fungi. 
This is a meagre account of the botany of this island; and my 
collection indicates little; the heavy rain, however, prevented me 
doing better. Much of the low land has been cultivated; and many 
introduced plants are now wild. Canna indica, Caladium bicolor, 
very beautiful in moist places, and a few European weeds ехізі— Рос 
annua, and Plantago major. An umbelliferous plant is very abun- 
dant, and must be indigenous; I believe it to be an Eryngium. 
Some very good cabbages are grown both at Prince’s Island and Fer- 
nando Po without going to elevated ground; water-cresses are 
abundant in some of the brooks, but of course have been intro- 
duced. 
Our repairs complete, we left Fernando Po on the 2nd of 
January. The weather in this island for the last three weeks has 
been almost free from rain, the days hot, with the usual haze of 
the dry season, called “smokes” by the traders. December to 
March are the best months for botanizing in this island. Clero- 
dendron splendens and some fine scarlet Combretacee are very 
handsome at this season ; most of the large forest-trees are also 
just flowering. 
The mountains are seldom visible. Sometimes at dawn the peak 
of Clarence appears, but is enveloped in clouds soon after the sun 
rises; and an occasional glimpse of the stupendous Cameroon, 
towering far up in the firmament, is also obtained. I never rise 
at such times without anticipating the pleasure I shall have 
