FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



ash colour. The tree is now somewhat rare in its 

 natural state, but is frequently seen in gardens, 

 where it has no doubt been transplanted from its 

 original home among the rocks, as Mr. Lowe, in 

 his ''Flora of Madeira," remarks how he only noticed 

 it growing on high rocks or in inaccessible places. 



One of the first trees which is sure to strike the 

 the eye of the new-comer is the dragon-tree, or 

 Draccena draco, on account of its peculiar growth. 

 From having been a common tree on the island it 

 has now become a rare one in its native state ; in 

 fact, the only ones I have ever seen under those con- 

 ditions are a few sole survivors on the rocks beyond 

 the Brazen Head, where formerly they grew in 

 great numbers. Now by their quaint growth they 

 give a distinctive feature to many a garden, and it 

 is consoling to know that they are easily raised 

 from seed. Mr. Bowdick, in writing of the tree, 

 says : " The dragon-tree was considered by Hum- 

 boldt as exclusively indigenous to India, but I am 

 inclined to think it is also natural to Porto Santo, 

 and perhaps to Madeira not from the few speci- 

 mens which now remain on these islands, but from 

 the account of Cadamosto, who visited Porto Santo 

 in 1445, and writes that the dragon-trees of Porto 

 Santo were so large that fishing-boats capable of 



