Stewart — Botanical Conditions fin the Galapagos Islands. 285 



which there are occasional islands of older lava which are cov- 

 ered with xerophytic vegetation. 



The botanical conditions in the vicinity of Iguana Cove are 

 rather unique, as it is the only place on the islands where an ex- 

 tensive mesophytic vegetation occurs near sea level. It is very 

 likely that the steep slope has something to do with this, as no 

 such conditions are found a short distance south of the cove 

 where the slope is more gradual. 



The halophytie flora is of no consequence here due probably 

 to the steep shores. There are mangrove swamps, however, 

 along the north shore of this part of the island between Christo- 

 pher Point and Elizabeth Bay, and on the south shore between 

 Essex Point and Cape Rose. 



The flat area at the base of the cliffs, just south of the cove, is 

 ■covered with a heavy growth of bushes consisting for the most 

 part of: Cordia Hookeriana, Cryptocarpus pyriformis, Tourne- 

 fortia rufo-sericea, and Zanthoxylum Fagara. This condition 

 continues for some distance do^vn the coast was found out by 

 some members of the party who attempted to come overland. 

 The sides of the cliffs just back of the cove, are pendicular so 

 that it is difficult to scale them except, in a few places where they 

 are somewhat shelving. In such places there are a few trees 

 and bushes, and a considerable number of herbaceous plants and 

 ferns. Above the top of the cliff there is a heavy growth of 

 vegetation consisting of trees of Bursera graveolens, Pisonia 

 floribunda, Scalesia Cordata, and Zanthoxylum Fagara, the last 

 of which is usually heavily covered with Phoradendron Hens- 

 lovii. There are usually thick tangled masses of bushes which 

 are heavily overgrown with such vines as Cissampelos Pareira 

 and Ipomoea Bona-nox. Many ferns, both epiphytic and terres- 

 trial, occur here. 



Owing to the rainy weather, while we were at this place, no 

 plants were collected above 500 ft. The conditions at this ele- 

 vation were about the same as those near the tops of the cliffs 

 above the cove, except that there were occasional open places in 

 the vegetation, which were covered with ferns and grasses. 

 These areas get larger a little higher up. Mr. E. E. Snodgrass 

 climbed about half way up the side of this mountain when he 

 visited these islands several years ago. He has told me that ap- 

 parently the rest of the way up, the vegetation is made up of 

 dense fern brakes with irregular rows of shrubs running through 



