Stewart — Botanical Conditions pn the Galapagos Islan'h. 305 



ericaefolia, Bursera graveolens, Cardiospermum corindum, Cas- 

 sia picta, Cereus galapagensis, Coldenia Darwini, Cordia gala- 

 pagensis, C. lutea, Cryptocarpus pyriformis, Discaria pauciflora 

 Euphorbia articulata, E. viminea forma chathamensis, Gossyp- 

 iuin barbadense, Lycopersicum esculentum var, minor, Moilugo 

 gracillima, Pectis tenuifolia, Phoradendron Henslovii, Polygalla 

 galapagensis var. insularis, Porophyllum ellipticum, Scalesia 

 divisa, Tephrosia cinera, and Waltheria reticulata forma inter- 

 media. All of these plants grow from the crevices of the lava in 

 which there is usually no appearance of soil at the surface. 



The country south of Sappho Cove is covered with much 

 older lava than is the country north. This lava is very rough in 

 places and has deep fissures in it. The lower parts here are cov- 

 ered with a dense growth of xerophytic vegetation, very similar 

 to that found in the vicinity of Basso Point, except that many 

 trees of Hippomane Mancinella are found around an elevation 

 of 500 ft. These trees usually grow along what appeared to be 

 an old stream bed, as there were water-worn boulders in it. 

 There are several small craters near an elevation of 800 ft., cov- 

 ered with forests of Bursera graveolens, on which there was an 

 abundance of fruticose lichen. 



Wreck Bay. 



Wreck Bay is a rather open sheet of water, somewhat protect- 

 ed by reefs, which is situated at the southwest end of the island, 

 and is the port for the settlement in the interior. The shores 

 around the bay are composed of steep sand beaches, and low 

 cliffs of lava. The country is low for some distance back of the 

 shore, and it is probably of marine origin. There is a moder- 

 ately steep ascent at the end of the flat area near the shore, which 

 leads up to a broad plain, covered with masses of lava and soil 

 which slopes gradually upward towards the interior to an eleva- 

 tion of 500 ft. There are a few small lava hills and craters at 

 various places on this plain. There is rather a steep slope from 

 500-800 ft. elevation which leads up on to the rolling plateau re- 

 gion covering the central portion of this end of the island. 



The settlement is located on this plateau at an elevation of 900 



ft. There is a considerable amount of land under cultivation 



surrounding the settlement, on which coffee, and sugar-cane are 



produced. There is also a large garden in which many of the 



20— S. A. 



