ME. BUNBUEY OK THE BOTANY OF MADEIEA. 15 



to Madeira and the West Indies, but not found on the continent 

 of Europe, nor in North Africa. The identity, however, of Asple- 

 nium Canariense with A.furcatum, and of Trichomanes speciosum 

 with T. radicans, may be open to some dispute. 



Polypodiwn drepanum, JPolystichum falcinellum and P. frondo- 

 sum appear to be really peculiar to Madeira ; while the Canaries 

 have, as it seems, no peculiar Fern except Cheilanthes pulchella ; 

 and the Azores none at all. Some species which are common to 

 Madeira and the Canaries are confined to these two groups, or 

 only straggle into the westernmost part of Europe, and do not 

 reach the Azores ; such are Davallia Canariensis, Adiantum reni- 

 forme, Nephrodium elongatum, and Asplenium Canariense (if it be 

 distinct from A.furcatum). On the other hand, Dichsonia Culcita 

 is common to Madeira * and the Azores, and peculiar to them. 

 Species common to all three groups, and scarcely to be found else- 

 where, are Allantodia umbrosa, A. axillaris, and Pteris arguta. 



It is worthy of notice, that, with the single exception of Ophio- 

 glossum Lusitanicum, all the Madeira Ferns are Filices Gyratce, 

 or Polypodiaeece. There are no Osmundacece, no Schizceacecz, 

 no Oleicheniacece. The absence of Osmunda regalis, a plant so 

 widely distributed, and which is found in Northern Africa and in 

 the Azores, is perhaps to be accounted for by the want of marshes 

 and pools. It is also remarkable, that, with so large a number of 

 Ferns, Madeira has only two Lycopodiacece. In general, the same 

 localities are favourable to both families. Lycopodium (Selagi- 

 nella) denticulatum abounds everywhere in the mountain woods 

 and deep shady ravines, and even carpets the moist stone walls 

 close to the sea, on the north coast; in the neighbourhood of Fun- 

 chal it is less frequent. Lycopodium suberectum, Lowe, appears 

 to be rare, and I never met with it. 



The Mosses, Hepatica?, and Lichens of Madeira offer a fine 

 field of research to a botanist who has plenty of leisure to search 

 for them. They are very abundant and beautiful in the Laurel 

 woods of the central range, but I had not time to do more than 

 collect a few of the more conspicuous kinds. The following are 

 the principal Mosses and Lichens that I observed in the island : — 



Fissidens serrulatus, Bridel. Abundant on very wet and shady 

 banks in the Laurel forests ; in fruit in a small gully amidst the 

 chestnut woods above N. S. do Monte. 



Hypnum purum. On the ground in the Laurel forests, Eibeiro 

 Frio, and at the head of the S. Vicente valley. I did not find it in 

 * In Madeira, however, it is very rare. 



