22 The Irish Naturalist. February, 



the Agrarian Zones, Lower, Middle, and Upper (I., II., and 

 III.) together ranging from sea-level to 1,500 metres, or say, 

 5,000 feet, the three Alpine Zones (IV., V., and VI.), Lower, 

 Middle, and Upper, oecupying the remaining 1,500 feet up 

 to the summit. 



It is chiefly with the Alpine Zones we are concerned here, 

 yet a few words may be given to the Agrarian Zones in 

 which the great bulk of the Serra da Estrella flora is found. 

 The Lower Agrarian ranging from sea-level to 1,300 feet, is 

 the home of the Mediterranean flora, and in its total of 

 1,030 species of phanerogams and vascular cryptogams are 

 included the sub-tropical American aliens the Agave and 

 the Nopal or Indian Fig (Opuntia) which flourish up to 

 nearly 1,000 feet and form hedges round the vineyards and 

 olive groves. This is the zone of the Orange, the Lemon, 

 the Vine, the Olive and the Fig. Here, too, in the lowest 

 levels Rice is largely cultivated, to the great detriment 

 of the public health, as Dr. Henriques says [com grandc 

 detrimento da saude publica). In the Middle Agrarian 

 Zone (II.) ranging from 1,300 to 2,600 feet, the Castanheiro 

 or Edible Chestnut prevails, Millet [Paniciim iniliaceum) is 

 largely cultivated and wide tracts are covered with various 

 species of Cistus or Rock-rose. In this zone our rare 

 Asplenium lanceolatiim finds its upper limit at 1,650 feet, 

 and many familiar Irish and Kerry species exhaust their 

 vertical range at about 2,300 feet, e.g., Radiola linoides, 

 Trifoliuni arvense, Peplis Portida, Lcontodon hispidus, 

 Solanum Didcamara, Lycopus curopaeiis and Scirpus Savii. 

 In the Upper Agrarian Zone (III.), ranging from 2,600 to 

 about 4,900 feet, the Common Bracken and the culture of 

 Rye cease at about 4,800 feet, and a monotonous aspect is 

 given to the landscape by the dominance of the prostrate, 

 ashen-grey vegetation of Hali)niiim occidentalc, one of the 

 Cistineae. The Arbutus, the Croumcahinye of Kerry, 

 the Madronheiro of the Portuguese, and Madroiio of the 

 Cantabrian highlanders, ascends into this zone, and so at- 

 tains at least 2,600 feet, though its precise limits are not 

 given in the report. Here, too, potato cultivation reaches 

 its upper limit at 3,250 feet, and one of the economically 

 valuable Esparto grasses, Macrochloa arenaria, becomes 



