Chap, vii.] VEGETATION. I45 



Kerguelen cabbage,* is, at least in the part of the island explored, 

 by no means so abundant as at Kerguelen's Land. It was 

 some time before a plant was found ; but subsequently a good 

 many were met with, but not growing in groups of more than 

 four or five plants. Some were found on the very verge of the 

 shore, within reach of the spray, and the rest on the banks of 

 a small rivulet. The cabbage was mostly in full flower and 

 bud, with sepals and anthers complete. No plants were found 

 with seed at all ripe. The last year's seeds were decayed. 

 This plant at least would appear to have a regular summer 

 flowering-season, since vSir Joseph Hooker found only the fruit 

 at Kerguelen's Land in the winter. 



Of th e ferns the Loniaria alpimi is the most conspicuous, 

 forming thick and wide patches amongst the Accriia and grass, 

 and occurring abundantly everywhere. Aspidiitm mohriodes was 

 found growing under sheltered banks beside the small stream 

 together with the other three ferns. 



Hymenophyllum tunbridgeiise, the British species, and Poly- 

 podium austrak grow abundantly on the sheltered sides of the 

 projecting rock-masses already mentioned, but are dwarfed and 

 almost hidden amongst the mosses. They grow in greatest 

 luxuriance on the damp banks of the stream. 



The mosses are in most striking abundance,! and, in some 

 very wet places, form continuous sheets over the ground many 

 square yards in extent. Lichens are not in very great quantity, 

 except the incrusting forms, which are tolerably al^undant on 

 the rocks. 



An attempt was made to reach the actual upper limit of 

 vegetation, but failed from being commenced too late in the 

 day. The ascent was up the bed of the small stream already 

 mentioned, which lay at the verge of one of the modern lava- 

 flows, where it abutted on a low cliff exposing a more ancient 

 flow in section. The more recent flow had a very gradual 

 inclination of not more than 8°. The first scattered patches of 

 snow were encountered at about an elevation of 800 feet. A 

 patch of the cabbage was met with at 1,000 feet. 



The highest point reached was at about 1,500 feet elevation. 

 Here Ranunculus Internatus had disappeared, and where 

 growing a little lower down was very much dwarfed. The 

 Azorella, with a few mosses, formed the principal vegetation ; 

 but the green was merely dotted over the bare rock and stones. 

 The patches of snow were here frequent. The Azorella 



* For an account of this plant and figure, see under Kerguelen's Land, 

 p. 167. 



f Thirty-one species were collected, five of which are described by 

 Mr. Mitten as new. 



