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were also seen, but further up the rocks were covered by lichens. 

 Sesuvium portulacastrum L. and Philoxerus vermicularis (L.) appeared 

 as the first flowering plants and intermingled with them well- 

 developed Cereus- and Opuntia species, which here at so short a 

 distance from the sea may be washed over by it. 



On the south side of St. Thomas and on the islands round 

 the harbour of Charlotte Amalie the Agaves were often growing 

 right down to the sea. The accompanying picture (fig. 40) has 



Fig. 40. Agaves, Plumieria, Cereus etc. growing on rocky coast near tlie en- 

 trance to the harbour of St. Thomas. (F. B. pliot.) 



been taken at the east side of the entrance to the harbour near 

 the Quarantine station; it shows the Agaves on the steep rock al- 

 most down to the level of the sea. With their huge yellow in- 

 florescences, which like a luminous torch often stand 20 — 30 feet 

 or more out into the air, they made a splendid show and per- 

 haps more than anything else gave pronounced proof of what a 

 tropical climate even in this dry and sparse locality can produce. 

 On the north side of St. Jan one also meets a little Thrinax- 

 species^), growing among Agaves and Gactacese often rather 



*) What species it is, I cannot tell, most probably several species occur on 

 the islands. A specimen which I have brought home, found on the heights 



