MR. BUNBTTKY ON THE BOTANY OF MADEIRA. 9 



from the central range, projects from E. to W. almost across the 

 valley. The circumstances are therefore exceptional. As a 

 general rule, the native forests characterize the northern face of 

 the island. 



These evergreen woods are remarkably beautiful and pictu- 

 resque, though they have not the overwhelming luxuriance and 

 almost awful grandeur of the tropical American forests. They are 

 principally composed of four species of Laurel : the Til, Laurus 

 (Oreodaphne) foetens ; the Vinhatico, Laurus (JPersea) Indica; the 

 Laurus Canariensis, Webb and Berth. ; and the Laurus (Phoebe) 

 Barbusana. All these are noble trees, of great size, of free and 

 picturesque growth, and of rich, massy, glossy foliage. Old trees 

 of Til and Vinhatico*, with rugged and cavernous trunks, are as 

 fine objects as any trees I have ever seen. These two species pre- 

 dominate in the woods of the Serra d'Agoa valley, while the Lau- 

 rus Canariensis, which likewise grows to a very large size, is the 

 prevailing tree in those of Eibeiro Frio and the Metade. Another 

 beautiful tree of these forests, but a less abundant one, is the Fol- 

 hado, Clethra arborea, the wood of which is much used for ham- 

 mock-poles and walking-sticks. The undergrowth consists mainly 

 of two Heaths, Erica scoparia and arborea, and the Madeira Whor- 

 tleberry, Vaccinium padifolium, Sm.f ; with Hypericum grandifo- 

 lium, and a profusion of Ferns. The Erica arborea grows really 

 to a tree, and a very picturesque one, but I did not myself see in 

 Madeira any specimens of it as large as some in the wood of Agua 

 Garcia in Teneriffe. All the old trees in the Madeira woods are 

 most beautifully draped with ferns (especially Davallia Canariensis 

 and Polypodium vulgar e), mosses and lichens. 



Madeira is famous for its abundance of Eerns. This character 

 is deserved chiefly by the northern side of the island, which, 

 owing to its wild and wooded condition and very moist climate, is 

 indeed a choice situation for these beautiful plants. The southern 

 side, more exposed to the sun, may perhaps have always been less 

 suited to them ; and the destruction of the woods, and extensive 

 spread of cultivation, have left comparatively few localities favour- 

 able to their growth. On the northern slope they grow in sur- 

 prising profusion. In all the ravines which intersect that coast 

 we see them clothing the rocks and shady banks, the roots and 

 trunks of trees, the margins of the innumerable rapid streams, 



* The young stems of the Vinhatico have a very smooth bark, but that of 

 the old trunks is peculiarly rugged and knotty, 

 f V. Maderense, DC. 



