1886-87.] Indigenous Flora of Madeira. 87 



The Umbelliferous order has some interesting repre- 

 sentatives. The rare Bunium hrevifolium, Lowe, inhabits the 

 highest mountain slopes, between 5000 and 6000 feet, and 

 springs from an edible tuber, which is much sought for by- 

 shepherd boys, like pignuts in our own country. 



Bupleurum salicifolium, Lowe, is a shrubby perennial, 2 to 

 4 feet high. 



Melanoselinum decipiens, Schrad. and Wendl., is one of the 

 noblest of its tribe, with tall, simple, palm-like, slender stem, 

 and terminal umbrella-like tufted head. It is sometimes 

 10 to 12 feet high, and represents a group of arborescent 

 Umbelliferse. Some time ago it was introduced into European 

 gardens, but for long its true native country remained un- 

 ascertained. It is now known to be strictly indigenous to 

 Madeira. 



Among the Composites, our attention is at once drawn to 

 Sonchus sqioarrosus, or fruticosus of L. lil., a magnificent 

 representative of its genus, subarborescent and gigantic 

 in all its parts. It adorns wet perpendicular rocks in the 

 ravines of the interior, and is from 4 to 12 feet high, 

 with a trunk as thick as the arm, the flowers being like 

 those of the common dandelion. The plant is perennial, and 

 flourishes in English gardens if taken under glass for the 

 winter. 



The other two species of Sonchus, viz., p)innatus and ustulatus, 

 are also worthy of attention. 



Cynara horrida is well named, as it is a most formidable 

 plant, and is very difficult to press. 



There are three beautiful species of Hclichrysvm, one of 

 which, H. Monizii, is worthy of special note. The plant is 

 snowy-tomentose, with a profusion of golden heads, and 

 inhabits sea-cliffs and the rocky sides of ravines near the 

 sea. A gigantic black basaltic headland, nearly 2000 feet 

 high, called Cape Giram, has its steep sides adorned with 

 great masses of this plant, which, when agitated or waving 

 in the wind, add greatly to the impressiveness of the 

 scenery. 



The Campanulaccce contain two splendid plants — Mussehia 

 aurea and Mussehia Wollastoni. 



Among the Ericaccce we find Vacciniuni maderensis, the 

 ^ladeira bilberry, which forms close thickets of vast extent 



