MR. BUNBITRY ON THE BOTANY OF MADEIRA. 5 



of " colonists." Such are Calendula arvensis (one of the commonest 

 winter-flowering plants about Funchal), Setaria verticillata, La- 

 thyrus sativus, Oalactites tmnenfosa, Galium saccTiaratum^ Echium 

 violaceuniy Anchusa Italica, AnagalUs arvensis var. ccerulea, and 

 many others. There are, however, very many plants, common to 

 Europe and Madeira, the introduction of which cannot so easily 

 be ascribed to the agency of man; of these I shall speak more 

 particularly afterwards. 



Oomphocarpus fruticosus^ a very common Cape plant, whicli 

 seems to have spread widely through Africa and parts of Asia, 

 grows wild in several places about Funchal, particularly amidst 



^ 



the volcanic cinders of the little cone called Pico de S. Joao. Its 



w 



feathered seeds may easily have been transported by the winds 

 from the continent of Africa. In spite of the wide distance between 

 the two localities, there is no appreciable difference between the 

 Madeira specimens and those from the Cape of Good Hope. 



In speaking of the naturalized plants of Madeira, I must not 

 omit to mention the Sweet or Spanish Chestnut, and the common 

 Broom (Cytisus scoparius, DC.) ; both of which, it is said, are 

 certainly known to liave been introduced into the island, though 

 now so well established as to have all the appearance of true natives, 

 widely spread, and covering great tracts of ground. 



On the sea-coast near Funchal there are a few localities where 

 the purely native and peculiar plants may still be found. One of 

 these is the spot long since mentioned by Mr. Lowe * as pro- 

 ducing the rare Gham<jemeJes coHacea ; namely the edge of the 

 sea-cliff a little way east of the city, on the road to Santa Cruz 

 and Machico. Here the Cliammneles stiU grows, as well as the 

 splendid plant commonly called the " Pride of Madeira " {JEchium 

 fastuosum ?), tlie Plantar/o Mailomsis, Decaisne, and a shrubby 

 Cassia (C. hicapsidaris), which, thougli probably an introduced 

 plant, is well established, and plentiful in many places along 

 the cliffs. The pretty Lavandula pinnata is also to be found on 

 the same part of the coast, on rocks above the Lazaretto. On 

 the other side of Funchal, near the Ponta da Cruz, tlie rugged 

 lava rocks surroundiug tliat singular crater-like chasm which 

 opens to the sea, produce a few interesting plants : the Ilelichry- 

 sum ohconicum is abundant, a fine shrubby plant, very cons])icuous 

 from the contrast of its excessively white woolly leaves with the 

 black lava ; Lohis glaucus also grows there, and Matthiola Ma- 

 derensis ; this latter not in flower at the time of my visit, but 



* Liunoan Transactions, vol. xvi. 



