A RAMBLE IN THE HIGHER ALTITUDES 89 



Goody era macrophytta is said to be found in 

 this district, with its beautiful pure white spikes, 

 and here and there thickets of a low-growing 

 indigenous, mountain ash, which in September 

 bears fragrant white flowers, to be followed by 

 brilliant scarlet berries in early winter. 



From just beyond the rest-house at the Poizo 

 a long turf ride of some four or five miles leads 

 to the Lamaceiros, and is a welcome relief after 

 clattering over the eternal cobble-stones. A long 

 round, over country where seas of golden gorse, 

 when it is in bloom, delight the eye and nose 

 and make a beautiful foreground to the enchant- 

 ing views, leads eventually past wooded glens, 

 either over the Portella down to the village 

 of Santa Cruz, or through the village of Camacha 

 back to Funchal. A levada near the reservoir 

 at the Pico d'Assoma is again rich in ferns, and 

 Miss Taylor says : " The lover of ferns will perfectly 

 revel in the wealth of lovely Hymenophyllums 

 which clothe the stems of old laurels: here and 

 there a mass of rock, perfectly cushioned with 

 Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense ; here and there 

 a carpet of Hymenophyllum Wilsoni and Davallia 

 Canariensis and Polypodium vulgare growing in 

 masses on the trees. Nephrodium Oreopteris here 



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