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MR. BUNBUET OlS THE BOTANY OF TENEEIFFE. 33 



m the shrubby Leguminoscd^ which form the whole of the ligneous 

 vegetation of the highest parts of Teneriife. 



In the prevalence of Leguminous shrubs, the Teneriffe flora 

 shows an analogy to that of Spain. Besides the two already men- 

 tioned, which are confined to heights above the region of the 

 Heath, several other Oenistece abound at lesser elevations, espe- 

 cially tlie beautiful Adenocarpus foliolosus and Cytisus proliferus. 

 Another point of resemblance between the Teneriffe flora and 

 tliat of Spain, is the abundance, in some parts of the island, of 

 various species of Cistm, The Cisfus Mompeliensis, in particular, 

 is the prevailing shrub of the A\'ild, rugged, rocky country between 

 Icod de los Vinos and Icod el Alto ; and the curious Cytintcs 

 Hypocistis grows plentifully on its roots, as in the south of Europe. 

 These analogies between tlie vegetation of the Canaries and that of 

 the Iberian Peninsula are the more remarkable, as they seem to 

 be wanting in Madeira. 



The beautiful wood of xlgua Garcia, of which a glowang (but 

 not exaggerated) description is given by Webb and Berthelot, is 

 the finest example I saw of the forest vegetation of Tenerifle. It 

 IS especially remarkable for the profusion of Ferns and Mosses, 

 and for the gigantic growth oi Erica arhorea. Towards the out- 

 skirts of the forest, in particular, this Heath grows to a surprising 

 size, even to the height of 40 feet ; it is however always slender in 

 proportion, and none of the trunks that I measured were more 

 than four feet round. The forest consists entirely of evergreen 

 trees : the most abundant, as far as I saw, appeared to be the 

 Lmtnis {Fersed) Lidica (Viiiatico), Laurus Canariensis, Ilex pla- 

 typlylla^ Webb and Berth., Myrica Fay a, and Viburnum rugosum 

 for this last grows here quite to the size of a tree. The variety of 

 species, however, is greater tlian I was able, in one hasty visit, to 

 ascertain : M. Berthelof told me that he had found in that wood 

 not less than 25 species of trees ; but all are evergreen, and all 

 (with the exception of the Ileatli) have a great general resem- 

 blance of physiognomy . All (with the aforesaid exception) belong 

 to the Laurel form or type of vegetation, having broad, undi^-ided, 

 deep green, shining leaves, more or less coriaceous, and approadi- 

 ing to an elliptical or lanceolate form, in no degree lobed or cut. 

 This prevalence of one particular type of foliage distinguishes in a 

 niarked manner the forest vegetation of Teneriffe from that of the 

 tropics ; as, on the other hand, its evergreen character contrasts 

 with the woods of Europe. In tropical forests, indeed, there is a 

 gi'eat abundance of trees of the Laurel type, — Laurinea, OuttU 

 Linn. Proc— Botany. » 



