104 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



appears. The shallow soil only provides a home 

 for cactuses, which grow to an immense size ; but 

 now and then a peach-tree or a little colony of 

 almond-trees have found sufficient soil in which 

 to get a hold. The trees may be twisted and 

 distorted, storm-bent by the strong winds that 

 sweep in from the Atlantic, but for that reason 

 are all the more picturesque; while here and 

 there a group of stone-pines, or a group of 

 cypresses sentinels, guarding a little silent grave- 

 yard give variety to the landscape, and stand 

 out in admirable contrast to the deep blue sea 

 below. Such plants as an occasional Euphorbia 

 piscatoria, a cheiranthus, a lavender, (Lavandula 

 pinnatd), the Madeira stock (Mathiola Maderensis], 

 some of the sedums, Sonchus pirmatus, of the sow- 

 thistle family, a native of the island, and a long list 

 of other more or less insignificant wild-flowers, may 

 all be noticed. But by far the most beautiful 

 and showy is the Echium fastuosum, pride of 

 Madeira, which is to be seen on the cliffs along 

 the New Road, though never with as large and 

 perfect heads of bloom, or so deep in colour, as 

 when cultivated. Another variety, candicans, has 

 flowers of a darker blue, but is only to be found in 

 the hills. Among this rough ground, and unfortu- 



