REPORT ON THE BOTANY OF THE ISLANDS OF THE SOUTHERN OCEAN. 



143 



" Phyiica nitida grows, under the shelter of the cliffs of Inaccessible Island, to a height of 

 twenty feet, or somewhat more. The trunks are never straight, but usually procumbent and again 

 ascending. The largest that I saw was one foot in diameter. On the upper plateau of Inaccessible 

 Island, some trunks are said by the Germans to be eighteen inches in diameter ; but the trees there 

 are never so high as they are below, being beaten down by the gales. The wood of the tree is 

 brittle, and, when exposed, rapidly decays ; but it is serviceable when dried carefully with the bark 

 on. The Germans use it even for handles to their axes and other tools." 



Independently of evidently introduced plants, fifty-five species of vascular plants have 

 been collected in the Tristan da Cunha group. Their distribution is exhibited in the 

 folio wincr table : — 



Tabular View of the Distribution of the Vascular Plants of the Tristan da Cunha Group. 



1 The variety acugnaticum may be peculiar to the group. 



2 The variety rubrum is restricted to South America and the Falkland Islands. 



3 These Scirpi form the greater part of the green carpet of the islands. 



