Botanical Notices from Spain. 117 



with Aspkodelus ramosus, L., which was now in full blossom. When 

 this tract was passed, which is somewhat dangerous to cross at this 

 season of the year on account of the numerous deep morasses in 

 which the path is every instant lost, we entered on the promon- 

 tory of the Siena de Palma, which is covered with cork-oaks. This 

 is the name given to this central part of the chain of Algeciras, which 

 rises to about 4000 feet, — an abrupt, rocky mountainous district, in- 

 tersected with numerous deep valleys, woody and rich in water : over 

 this mountain a very dangerous mule-path leads to Algeciras. In 

 the lower part Genista linifoliay L., especially occurs in company with 

 another large shrubby species of this genus, plentiful ; and on the 

 lakes Tamarix africana, Desf., andA^mwrn Oleander, L. 



The lower part of the mountain is covered with isolated cork-oaks 

 and wild olive-trees, but at about halfway up begins a dense and 

 beautiful forest, such as I had never before seen in Spain. It prin- 

 cipally consists of very old knotty cork-oaks, clothed from top to 

 bottom with Polypodium vulgare and the elegant Davallia canariensis, 

 Sw., as well as with red and yellow coloured forms of Usnea barbata, 

 Sticta pulmonacea, and other lichens in the most picturesque manner ; 

 also of Quercus lusitanica,(3. batica, Lam., and Olea europcea var. sylves- 

 tris, on the boughs of which I have also observed, although more 

 rarely, the beautiful Davallia. The banks of the crystal bjooks are 

 lined with large trees of Laurus nobilis, L., which were just in full 

 blossom and diffused a balsamic perfume throughout the wood, and 

 likewise with tall bushes of oleander, pistachio, and Rhododendron pon- 

 ticum with leaves nearly a foot long. There are likewise found in 

 this noble forest trees of Phillyraea media, Ph. angustifolia. Arbutus 

 Unedo, Viburnum Tinus, Cratcegus monogyna, Pyrus communis ?, and a 

 luxuriant underwood chiefly consisting of myrtles, pistachios, Erica 

 arborea and Rhamnus lycioides. On the loose soil of this forest, con- 

 sisting of dead vegetation, which recalls the tropical forests, through 

 the thickly interwoven boughs of which the rays of the sun can 

 scarcely penetrate, blossomed Allium triquetrum, L., Scilla vernalis, 

 Huds., and Luzula Forsteri, DC. The highest part of the mountain 

 is covered with low bushes of Chamcerops humilis and various species 

 oi Erica, Ulex, Rhamnus and Genista, beneath which the rsne Poly gala 

 microphylla, L., occurs frequent, and a Fritillaria rarely. As soon as 

 this summit was crossed, from whence there is a fine view over the 

 magnificent Bay of Gibraltar and the Pillars of Hercules, we entered 

 again on the underwood above described, which however is on this 

 side less varied. For instance, the laurel-trees are wanting here ; 

 on the other hand, I have nowhere seen Erica arborea in such pro- 

 fusion, nor in such gigantic specimens, as at this locality. There is 

 moreover found on the eastern declivity, in shady places, the beau- 

 tiful Doronicum rotundifolium, Desf., and further down on sunny 

 blocks of sandstone the rare Genista trident at a, L. 



Between the eastern foot of the mountain and the shore of the bay, 

 lies a broad, much-intersected, hilly land, consisting partly of sand- 

 stone, partly of limestone and alluvium, which surrounds the whole 

 bay, and is watered by the rivers of Palmones and Guadarranque, 



