Botanical Notices from Spain. 117 
with Asphodelus ramosus, L., which was now in full blossom. When 
this tract was passed, which is somewhat dangerous to cross at this 
season of the year on account of the numerous deep morasses in 
which the path is every instant lost, we entered on the promon- 
tory of the Siena de Palma, which is covered with cork-oaks. ‘This 
is the name given to this central part of the chain of Algeciras, which 
rises to about 4000 feet,—an abrupt, rocky mountainous district, in- 
tersected with numerous deep valleys, woody and rich in water: over 
this mountain a very dangerous mule-path leads to Algeciras. In 
the lower part Genista linifolia, L., especially occurs in company with - 
another large shrubby species of this genus, plentiful; and on the 
lakes Tamarix africana, Desf., and Nerium Oleander, L. 
The lower part of the mountain is covered with isolated cork-oaks 
and wild olive-trees, but at about halfway up begins a dense and 
beautiful forest, such as I had never before seen in Spain. It prin- 
cipally consists of very old knotty cork-oaks, clothed from top to 
bottom with Polypodium vulgare and the elegant Davallia canariensis, 
Sw., as well as with red and yellow coloured forms of Usnea barbata, 
Sticta pulmonacea, and other lichens in the most picturesque manner ; 
also of Quercus lusitanica, 3. betica, Lam., and Olea europea var. sylves- 
tris, on the boughs of which I have also observed, although more 
rarely, the beautiful Davallia. ‘The banks of the crystal brooks are 
lined with large trees of Laurus nobilis, L., which were just in full 
blossom and diffused a balsamic perfume throughout the wood, and 
likewise with tall bushes of oleander, pistachio, and Rhododendron pon- 
ticum with leaves nearly a foot long. There are likewise found in 
this noble forest trees of Phillyraea media, Ph. angustifolia, Arbutus 
Unedo, Viburnum Tinus, Crategus monogyna, Pyrus communis ?, and a 
luxuriant underwood chiefly consisting of myrtles, pistachios, Erica 
arborea and Rhamnus lycioides. On the loose soil of this forest, con- 
sisting of dead vegetation, which recalls the tropical forests, through 
the thickly interwoven boughs of which the rays of the sun can 
scarcely penetrate, blossomed Allium triquetrum, L., Scilla vernalis, 
Huds., and Luzula Forsteri, DC. The highest part of the mountain 
is covered with low bushes of Chamerops humilis and various species 
of Erica, Ulex, Rhamnus and Genista, beneath which the rare Polygala 
microphylla, L., occurs frequent, and a Fritillaria rarely. Assoon as 
this summit was crossed, from whence there is a fine view over the 
magnificent Bay of Gibraltar and the Pillars of Hercules, we entered 
again on the underwood above described, which however is on this 
side less varied. For instance, the laurel-trees are wanting here ; 
on the other hand, I have nowhere seen Erica arborea in such pro- 
fusion, nor in such gigantic specimens, as at this locality. There is 
moreover found on the eastern declivity, in shady places, the beau- 
tiful Doronicum rotundifolium, Desf., and further down on sunny 
blocks of sandstone the rare Genista tridentata, L. 
Between the eastern foot of the mountain and the shore of the bay, 
lies a broad, much-intersected, hilly land, consisting partly of sand- 
stone, partly of limestone and alluvium, which surrounds the whole 
bay, and is watered by the rivers of Palmones and Guadarranque, 
