Stewart — Botanical Conditions ,on the Galapagos Tslanrh. 311 



dant remains of Cyperus rubigiuosus. The inner side of the 

 ridge, to the east of this crater, is covered with a dense growth 

 of Zanthoxylum and other bushes all of which were covered with 

 lichens and leafy Hepaties. Along the top of this ridge, above 

 an elevation of 1,200 ft., there were bushes and small trees of 

 Acnistus ellipticus, Chiococca alba, Ci*oton Scouleri var. brevi- 

 folius, Erigeron tenuifolius, Pisonia floribunda, Scalesia Baurii, 

 Tournefortia psilostachya, T. Pubescens, and Zanthoxylum Fa- 

 gara. Exposed rocks in this region are often covered with a 

 thick growth of ferns which have formed a considerable amount 

 of vegetable mold upon them. Tillandsia insularis, and two epi- 

 phytic species of ferns, Polypodium lanceolatum, and P. lepidop- 

 teris occur to some extent upon the bushes in this region. Sev- 

 eral grassy areas extend down the east side from the top of this 

 ridge on which there are also small specimens of Opuntia gala- 

 pageia. 



No large trees occur around the top of this island, although 

 Pisonia floribunda, and Zanthoxylum Fagara, which grow here, 

 usually attain the size of large trees at similar elevations on 

 the other islands where these species occur. The absence of 

 large trees is probably due to the strong winds which strike the 

 top of the island during a greater part of the year, and thus 

 prevent the growth of large vegetation. 



Botanical regions are not well marked here but practically all 

 of the plants which occur below an elevation of 900 ft. are forms 

 typical of the dry regions, above this elevation many of the 

 plants commonly found in the transition region make their ap- 

 pearance. 



Gardner Island, Near Charles Island. 



This island is situated about four miles off the east side of 

 Charles Island. It is the smaller one of the two Gardner Is- 

 lands, Avliich occur in this group, and consists of an immense mass 

 of lava several hundred feet high. The shores are steep in most 

 places and are made up of tall cliffs some of which are perpen- 

 dicular. Landing is dangerous, and can only be done with safety 

 -when the surrounding water is comparatively still. 



The writer did not land upon this island so that the only 

 plants collected were by other members of the party. They are 

 few in number and in no way represent the entire flora. The is- 

 land appeared from the vessel to be covered with low bushes 



