8 FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE RIVIERA 



forms with prostrate branches, and many of the characteristic Medi- 

 terranean shrubs, come down to within a few feet of the waves. The 

 wild Cineraria (C. mantima Senecio Cineraria] with a thick cover- 

 ing of cottony hairs on the lower surfaces of the leaves, often occurs 

 in such situations, as does the white felted Anthyllis barba-Jovis. 

 Both of these, however, are sometimes seen on the rocks of hills many 

 miles from the coast. 



VEGETATION OF SHADED RAVINES. 



In the most shaded ravines of the coastal hills, and particularly 

 those facing north, where the ground is sheltered from the full glare 

 of the southern summer sun and a good water supply is obtainable, a 

 very interesting collection of trees and shrubs is often met with. In 

 the first place the holm-oak (Quercus Ilex), often regarded as the 

 Mediterranean treeflar excellence, particularly affects these ravines, 

 where it often forms dense luxuriant groves. This species does not 

 form woods on the open hillsides, though individual trees are scattered 

 here and there. A number of other shrubs which do not occur 

 on the open hillsides are frequently to be found in such places 

 shrubs with shining evergreen leaves larger than those of the typical 

 Mediterranean forms. Such are the holly (Ilex Aquifolium), the 

 laurustinus (Viburnum Tinus), and the laurel (Laurus nobilis). 

 These are members of the laurel-wood vegetation richly developed 

 in warm but oceanic climates such as those of the Canary Islands, 

 Madeira, and Portugal. They require pretty constantly damp air and 

 will not stand, at least in the Mediterranean, exposure to very hot sun on 

 dry hillsides with a south exposure. They all flourish in the British 

 Isles (of which the holly of course is a native) and particularly in the 

 moister climate of the west. Associated with the laurel-leaved shrubs 

 of the shady ravines moisture-loving plants occur several species of 

 ferns, Selagtnella denticulata, and various liverworts. The oleander 

 (Nerium Oleander) is also found along the stream sides of more open 

 rocky valleys. This shrub requires a constant water supply for its roots, 

 but its leaves, which are very efficiently protected from too rapid 

 evaporation, can withstand dry air very well, since the plant occurs in 

 the beds of rocky ravines even in the North African desert. 



MONTANE AND SUB-ALPINE VEGETATION. 



Typical Mediterranean vegetation extends for a varying distance 

 inland much further on the sunny slopes of the broad valleys than 

 on the higher hills. On the latter, even fairly close to the coast, 

 some of the characteristic Mediterranean shrubs disappear above a 

 certain altitude and other species replace them. 



As one passes to a distance of several miles from the coast and 

 the general level of the country rises towards the Maritime Alps a 

 change gradually comes over the vegetation, and deciduous trees 

 begin to replace the pines. The hoary oak, Quercus lanuginosa 



