308 



Tlie lower slopes are generally well vegetated up to altitudes of 

 4500 to 5000 ft., moorland predominating in their higher levels, 

 that is, above 2000 ft. Woods are well developed in places, 

 especially on the western and south-eastern sides. They are 



essentially formed by evei 



of the persistent agency of the woodcutter through centuries the 

 trees except when especially preserved do not usually exceed 20 ft. 

 in height. Dwarfing of the trees and shrubs as a rule begins 

 about 4000 ft. as the effect of deficient soil, and of exposure to the 

 prevailing strong winds; but it is likely that in the early timea 

 forests of considerable height existed at this altitude. 



Above the level of 5000 ft. the sparse vegetation of the preci- 

 pitous upper third of the mountain presents a great contrast to 

 the grassy and wooded plains below. On the crumbling lava and 

 on the beds of cinders and coarse ashes that form its surface plants 

 for the most part obtain a scanty hold. It is true, however, that 

 dwarfed trees and shrubs climb the steep slopes for a few hundred 

 feet, the scrub failing at levels short of 6000 ft. ; but above that 

 height A'egetation is sparse and the plants become scarcer and 

 scarcer as one nears the summit, some half-a-do^en reaching the* 

 terminal crater and its small cone. 



Zones of Vegetation. — Before proceeding further the zones of 

 vegetation on Pico may be here given. The arrangement doea 

 not vary materially from that of Seubert and Hochstetter, though 

 different designations have been adopted. 



(1) The Faya zone from the coast to between 2000 and 2500 ft. 



above the sea. 



/ 



azoTicay and Laurus canariensis. Next in order of frequency 

 come 7Ze^ perado^ RJiamnus latifolius, and Picconta excelsay the 

 last being now rare. Taxus haccata, at present almost extinct, 

 would belong to the higher levels of this zone. The most charac- 

 teristic shrubs in the same order of frequency would be Myrsine 

 africanaj Vaccinium cylindraceum^ Hypericum foliosiim.^ and 

 Vihurnum tinus. Hedera canariensis and a species of Smilax^ 

 represent the climbers and Ruhus fruticosus occurs in the under- 

 growth. Osmunda regalis is the most conspicuous of the ferns. 



(2) The Juniper and Daphne zone, 2000 to 4500 ft. for the wood 

 proper and 4500 to 5500 ft. for the scrub. The three most dis- 

 tinctive trees and shrubs of this zone taken in their order of 

 frequency are Juniperus oxycedrus (var. hrevi folia), Daphne 

 laureola, and Euphorbia mellifera (Tree-Euphorbia). But Erica 

 azorica, Laurus canariensis^ Myrsine africana^ Ilex perado, and 

 Vaccinium cylindraceuvi^ all of the lower zone, are here also 

 abundant; and characteristic amongst the. ferns are Dichsonia^ 

 cnlcita and Acrostichum squamosum. Arceuthohixim oxycedri 

 is a common parasite on the Juniper trees. 



(3) The Calluna, Menziesia, and Thymus zone, 5000 ft. to the 

 summit. Mats of Calluna vulgaris and Thy7nu:s Serpj/Uum (var. 

 angustifolius) predominate on these steep slopes of lava and 

 cinders; but Menziesia polifolia is abundant. Poly gala vulgaris 

 also occurs with one or two grasses, as Agrostis castellana. 



(4) The Upland Moors, 2000 to 4000 ft. This zone has been 

 formed at the expense of the Juniper zone around much of the 



