1862.] AZOREAN FLOllA. 265 



The most valuable productions of these islands are the in- 

 troduced and cultivated species^ viz. sugar and dyeing plants 

 {Sacchai'um and Isaiis), now discontinued, cereals,Potatoes, Yams, 

 Lupines, Vetches, Flax, etc. Among trees, the vine, the date, the 

 dragon-tree {Draccena Draco), and above all the orange-tree, of 

 which two species are cultivated, viz. Citrus Aurantium, Orange, 

 and C. medica, Citron. 



This is the most important growth of these islands, and the 

 staple of their commercial intercourse with Europe. The plan- 

 tations of these trees, or orange-groves, are protected by lofty 

 stone walls, and further sheltered by the Azorean Myrtle 

 [Myrica Fay a) and by Picconia excelsa, Dec, Olea excelsa, Aiton, 

 which are extensively planted about orchards, and reach to up- 

 wards of twenty feet in height. 



The produce of orange-trees in St. MichaeFs appears fabulous, 

 amounting in numbers from 8000 to 20,000 per tree, and in bulk 

 sufficient to load a ship. 



The Azorean flora has a far closer relationship with that of the 

 south-west of Europe than it has with that of Africa, All the 

 Orders represented in the Azores are common to the British 

 Isles except Asclepiadece, Oleacece, and Laurineas. Most of the 

 genera are common to both these distant insular groups, and 

 about 130 species are found both in the Azorean and in the Bri- 

 tish Isles. 



Of the 400 Azoric plants 50 are peculiar (endemic) ; 23 are 

 common to the three insular groups, Azores, Madeira, and Cape 

 de Verd; 316 are European, 5 are African, and 6 American. 



Species Azoric^. 



Some of the commonest and most widely distributed of our 

 Ferns are Azorean, viz. Polypodimn vulgare (var. serratum), 

 Pteris aquilina, Aspidium angulare, Cystopteris fragilis, Osmunda 

 r eg alls. 



Among the Grasses the following are very common : — 



Holcus mollis. Briza. Bi'omus madritensis. 



Anthoxanthum odoratmn. Triticiim repens. Cynosm-us echinatus. 



Aira caryophyllea. Hordeum murinum. Lagurus ovatus. 



Among the Carices, C. flava, C. stellulata, and C. divulsa are 

 common. 



N.S. VOL. VI. 2 M 



