Stewart — Botanical Conditions pn the Galapagos Islands. 307 



caroliniana, Eleocharis capitata, E. fistulosa, Jussiaea repens, 

 Lemna minor, and Polygonum acre are found. There are 

 hedges of coffee and lime trees, near the settlement, and occa- 

 sionally one of these is found in the open country, probably an 

 escape from cultivation. There are also deep ditches which were 

 evidently dug at an earlier day to take the place of fences. 

 These have become filled in many places with a heavy growth of 

 bushes of jMiconia Robinsoniana, and on the moist perpendicular 

 walls of the ditches there are many small ferns. 



The plateau rises gradually in a northeasterly direction, at- 

 taining an elevation of 1,700 ft. at the base of the main moun- 

 tain. Around the base of this mountain there are extensive 

 brakes of Pteris aquilina var. esculenta, and in protected places, 

 similar brakes of Gleichenia linearis and small trees of Telan- 

 thera rugulosa occur. The sides of the main mountain, which 

 rises 400 ft. above the plateau, are covered in many places with 

 a heavy growth of Lycopodium clavatum and ferns. On the lee- 

 ward side of the mountain and other protected places, this 

 growth is 2-3 ft. high, but where exposed to the constant action 

 of the wind, it is usually much lower. Occasional tree ferns, 

 Hemitelia multiflora also occur on the side of the mountain. 

 Other plants common here are: Cyperus grandifolius. Hibiscus 

 diversifolia, and Polygonum galapagense. Exposed places near 

 the top are covered with Sphagnum, wiiile at the top there are a 

 few bushes and ferns. The soil and rocks in this region are cov- 

 ered with lichens, associated with which are large gelatenous 

 masses which are probably Nostoc colonies. 



A good general view of the plateau region was obtained from 

 the top of this mountain. Except in ravines and other low 

 places, it is covered with an unbroken stretch of grass-land from 

 the northeast side around to the south side. On the remaining 

 sides there are occasional trees scattered over the grassland. 



All of the lower part of the island, that is covered with forests 

 in the vicinity of Wreck Bay, seems to constitute the dry region. 

 This extends up to about 650 ft. elevation, above which the 

 transition forms a narrow belt extending to the grassy region 

 which begins at 800 ft. elevation. The transition region here is 

 more of a transition from woodland to grassland than from a 

 xerophytic to a mesophytic vegetation. The moist region is ap- 

 parently not well represented here unless we accept certain small 

 areas, where local conditions are such as to permit a heavier 

 growth of vegetation, as representing this region. 



