

26 MB. BUNBUBT ON THE BOTANY OT TENEBIiTE. 



The deep valleys which open on the coast north-eastward of 

 Santa Cruz are full of interest to the botanist as well as the geo- 

 logist. The picturesque Val Bufadera, rich in beautiful orange 

 gardens, is one of the best examples. In the lower part of it, the 

 shingle of the dry torrent bed, which occupies the flat bottom, is 

 overspread with a thick growth of Plocama pendula, Artemisia ar- 

 gentea^ Euphorbia piscatoria^ Lavandula ahrotanoides, mixed with 

 some herbaceous Composites and Leguminous plants. The steep 

 rocky hills on either side are dotted over with bushes of the Uu- 

 pTiorhia Canariensis and piscatoriay the Kleinia and Flocama; and 

 the Opuntia^ an introduced plant, spreads in many places up the 



to 



hill sides, and mingles with the native growth. Higher up, where 

 the valley narrows, and a clear and rapid stream flows along the 

 bottom, the native vegetation is very rich and interesting. The 

 rocks, carpeted w4th Selaginella denticulata, are ornamented with 

 a variety of fine plants, among which JSchium giganteum and stric- 

 tum^ Cineraria Tussilaginis, Andryala pinnatifida^ and various 

 shrubby Gichoracece, Lavandula pinnata, Messerschmidtia fruticosa^ 

 Muhia fruticosa^ HypeHcv/m Canuriense, Jasminum Tiumile, Globu- 

 laria longifolia, Ranunculus corfus^efolius var. (J2. Tenet^iffw, Pers.), 

 and various Sempervivums, are conspicuous. Pei^iploca Icevigata 

 forms beautiful wreaths amidst the thickets. Several Ferns also 

 grow on the rocks in this valley ; in particular, Notholcena Ma- 

 rant^e, CeteracTi aureum (which appears to me a variety of C. offi' 

 cinaruni)^ Oymnogramme leptophylla^ Adiantum Capillus^ Davallia 



and Polupodium vulqare. Baron Humboldt was cer- 



ensis 



tainly misinformed when he resti'icted the list of Ferns found in 



the region of the Vine in Teneriffe, to two Acrostichums (N'othO' 



l<en<s) and an Ophioglossum, The six that I have enumerated all 



grow within the region of Euphorbias*, and much below" its upper 

 limit. 



Besides the endemic Canarian or Macaroncsian species above 

 noticed, a great many South-European plants grow along tlie 

 bottoms of these valleys, especially near their mouths, such as 

 Asphodelus ramosits^ Echium violaceumj Trijolium qlomeratum^ tO' 

 mentosum and stellattimy Silcne Oallica^ I>ianihu8 proVifer^ Linum 

 angustifolium^ Plantago Psyllium and P. Lagopus^ Briza maxima 

 and minor. Acliyrantlies argentea^ a frequent plant in the valleys 

 of this part of Teneriffe, is perhaps of African origin. 



The beautiful neighbourhood of Orotava, on tlie north-west 

 coast, has quite a different botanical character from that of Santa 



* The "Subtropical or African Region" of Von Buoh. 



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