1886-87.] Indigenous Flora of Madeira. 85 



charges the atmosphere with dust from the deserts to sucli a 

 degree that everything inside as well as outside the house is 

 coated with an impalpably fine yellow powder. The sun's 

 heat is often great ; but it is so tempered by land and sea 

 breezes, and by the prevalence of cloud screens, that by 

 proper management comparatively little inconvenience need 

 be felt. In summer for three months consecutively the 

 thermometer stands at 76° at 2 p.m. in your shaded room with 

 windows open; while during the winter months it will be 

 from 60° to 63° in the same situation. Moreover, by having 

 houses at different elevations, it is possible to keep that latter 

 temperature indoors during the whole of the year. 



Tlie picturesque scenery of Madeira is adorned by an 

 interesting and instructive native flora ; but, probably, to 

 the majority of visitors, not a very attractive one. 



To appreciate it, one must spend the whole year on the 

 island, and explore the mountains and the ravines of the 

 interior, as well as the shores, sea-cliffs, and slopes on both 

 sides, and get away from time to time from the horticultural 

 influences of Funchal and its neighbourhood, by which the 

 indigenous flora is very much eclipsed. 



The cultivated flora is strikingly and impressively 

 beautiful and luxuriant ; rare, showy, and interesting 

 growths from all parts of the world flourishing in its 

 gardens with but little care ; while many or most of our 

 ordinary hothouse or greenhouse favourites grow in the open 

 air, and attain a vigour and luxuriance which must be seen 

 on the s])ot to be appreciated. 



I may notice, in passing, that the wooded appearance of 

 the island, or of large portions of it, induced its Portuguese 

 discoverers, in the fifteenth century, to call it Madeira, the 

 word signifying " timber " ; while the name of the capital, 

 and only town, Funchal, means " Fennel " in Portuguese, and 

 was given because large quantities of that umbelliferous 

 plant were observed (as it may be to this day) growing on 

 and around the site of the future city. 



In Madeira there are certain fairly well marked regions 

 or zones of vegetation. The lowest, or semitropical, from 

 sea-shore to about 700 feet ; the hill, or temperate, from 

 700 feet to 2500 feet ; the mountain, from 2500 to 5000 

 feet ; and the highest peaks, from 5500 to 6000 feet. 



