MB. BUNBURY ON THE BOTANY OF MADEIRA. 7 



Bory, and JPolypodium vulgare^ frequent on rocks in this as well 

 as in the lower region ; Nephrodittm affine^ Lowe, and Polystichum 

 falcinellum {Aspidium^ Sw.), more local, This last is an interest- 

 ing plant, remarkable for its very rigid texture, and its resem- 

 blance at first sight to the leaves of a Zamia ; I found it sparingly 

 in the woods about the Jardim da Serra (Mr. Yeitch's country 

 house, about 2500 feet above the sea), and in a more dwarfish 

 state amidst the crowning rocks of the Arrebentao Peak, at the 

 elevation of more than 3800 feet. In general, the chestnut woods 

 on the south side of the island are too dry and open to be rich in 

 Ferns or Mosses. In many parts, particularly in the woods above 



* 



N. S. do Monte, I observed that the trunks of the chestnut trees, 

 though of considerable size, were quite clean and bare, without a 

 moss, without even a lichen except minute crustaceous species. 



It is only in some few deep and sheltered ravines that the 

 cryptogamous plants are to be found in abundance and in fine 

 condition, and that a few remnants are still to be seen of the pri- 



* I ■ 



mitive forests which seem to have formerly clothed the southern 

 as well as the northern face of Madeira. Such is the case in the 

 beautiful ravine commonly called the Little Curral, from which 

 the Eibeiro de Joao Gomez descends to Tunchal. I do not know 

 any other place, so easily accessible from tlie city, so attractive 

 to a botanist, and especially to a lover of Ferns. Here, Wood- 

 wardia radicans^ Adiantmn reniforme, Pteris arguta, Cystopteris 

 fragilis^ Athyrimn Filix-fcemina, Nephrodium elongatum^ Davallia 

 Canariemis may all be found, with abundance of Lycopodium den- 

 ticulatum. Here, too, are still growing a f 



Laurels 



forests. 



The fine vtvdwo of the Santa Luzia torrent, at the head of which 

 is a remarkable waterfixU, is still more rich in Ferns ; but tliough 

 not many miles distant from the city, it is much less easy of 

 access tlian the Little Curral. Woodwardia radicans, Allan fodia 

 umlrosa, and Fteris argida grow in most luxuriant beauty about 

 the foot of tlie waterfall, at an elevation of about 2(500 feet above 

 the sea. Adiantiim reniformc is plentiful on the clills that bound 

 the ravine; and Ad. Cajnllus-Veneris, which at Funchal grows 

 close to the actual sea-shore, extends even up to tl\e waterfall. In 

 this one ravine, and in one day's excursion, 1 ob^^erved twenty-two 



Jipecies of Ferns. 



The Tea-tree is cultivated Avith great success by Mr. Veitch at 

 the Jardim da Serra, and its produce is of excellent flavour. At 



