28 ME. BTTNBTJEY ON THE BOTANY OF TENEKIFEE. 



teristic features of the physical geography of Teneriffe, are rich in 

 curious plants. In their lower parts (below 1000 feet or there- 

 abouts), one of their peculiarly characteristic plants is the Rumex 

 Lunaria, a fine shrub with broad glossy bright green leaves and 

 ample spreading panicles ; certainly the handsomest of its genus. 

 The Ricinus communis (Palma-Christi) is frequent and ornamental, 

 and whether originally introduced or not, has all the appearance 

 of a wild plant. A fine large, shrubby, prickly Solanum, with 

 showy purple flowers (#. Vespertilio), has quite a tropical aspect, 

 strongly reminding one of some of the Brazilian Solanums ; while 

 on the other hand, the Aloe vulgaris, which is seen here and there 

 in some of the barrancos near Orotava, is a South- African form ; 

 and the shrubby SoncM are peculiarly Canarian. Some con- 

 spicuous plants of the forest region straggle far down these 

 ravines to an elevation of only a few hundred feet ; as is the case 

 with the beautiful Escobon (Oytisus proliferus), and the Erica 

 arborea, in the Barranco de S. Felipe near Orotava. 



About the level of Villa de Orotava (1000 feet), or a little 

 below it, the Ferns begin to be very abundant and beautiful, and, in 

 company with Houseleeks, profusely adorn the rocky banks and 

 stone walls. Rolypodium vulgare * and Davallia Canariensis are, 

 here as in Madeira, the most abundant kinds ; Gymnogramme lepto- 

 phylla, NotholcBna Maranto?, Asplenium palmatum, and Nephrodium 

 elongatum, frequent and fine. Some of these occur here and there 

 at a much lower level ; and near Garachico the Asplenium pal- 

 matum descends even to the sea-shore. Pteris longifolia is rare ; 

 I saw it only in one spot, on the margin of a rivulet that crosses 

 the road between Garachico and Icod de los Vinos. Cheilanthes 

 pulchella grows in rather arid rocky spots, among the Cistus 

 Monspeliensis, in the wild rugged country (overspread with obsi- 

 dian) between Icod de los Vinos and the village of La Guancha. 



Towards the level of Villa de Orotava, too, one begins to meet 

 with the Hypericum grandifolium, and the beautiful crimson Cine- 

 raria (C. Tussilaginis f), which is one of the greatest ornaments of 

 the lower part of the woody zone. 



Although there has been a lamentable waste of the beautiful 

 forests of Teneriffe, yet there are still some accessible spots where 

 the woodland vegetation may be seen in all its luxuriance. Such 

 is the wood of Agua Mansa, above Orotava, which is fortunately 



* It is very singular that Von Buch should have entirely omitted this Poly- 

 podium in his lists of Canarian plants, 

 f Senecio Tussilaginis, DC. 



