1 6 BOTANICAL FEATURES OF THE ALGERIAN SAHARA. 



Very much the same conditions greet one when he arrives in Algiers, ex- 

 cept that along the littoral, at and in the vicinity of Algiers, there is a 

 wealth of native and especially of introduced plants, which give little hint 

 of the arid regions close at hand. The hills which make a part of the beau- 

 tiful city of Algiers contain fine plantations of foreign trees, such as eucalyp- 

 tus, conifers of various species, acacias, figs, and a variety of fruit trees like 

 the apricot, peach, plum, apple, almond, orange, and others. In the fine public 

 squares one sees large palms also, and in the botanical garden are bamboos, 

 palms, bananas, India-rubber trees, and a large number of forms from the 

 subtropics. The great variety of introduced plants which appear to thrive 

 on the littoral again recalls portions of CaHfomia, where the kinds and 

 numbers of introduced plants which grow well are likewise large, and where 

 the floral strangers are gathered from the antipodes. But among the 

 species there are also many natives to the colony and which one will see 

 when he begins to travel away from the coast; for example, the cedar from 

 the higher mountains (Cedrus atlantica) and the fine pine {Pinus halepensis) 

 from lower altitudes; there are junipers and oaks, am.ong the latter the 

 cork oak {Quercus suher), and fine specimens of Pistacia atlantica and its 

 protector the jujube {Zizyphus lotus), the relationship of which will be 

 given later in this paper. Both of the last-named species are native to the 

 Sahara and are of rather frequent occurrence in the regions visited. 



Upon leaving Algiers one soon encounters a striking change in the char- 

 acter of the vegetation, evidences of a rather small rainfall and a low 

 humidity, and one appreciates the fact that even near the coast the climate 

 of the colony is fairly arid. A fine general view of the region about Algiers, 

 giving at a glance its setting and these features, is to be had from the heights 

 behind the city. In the words of Tristram (The Great Sahara) : 



Here we turned to observe the magnificent panorama of the city and the harbour 

 below, with the bay stretching far beyond, the slopes of Mustapha on the right studded 

 with villas, the Sahel range terminating beyond the massive tower of the seminary of 

 Kouba, the conspicuous Maison Caree . . . planted where the plain of the Metidjeh 

 opens to the sea, the range of the lesser Atlas in the distance beyond, and the peaks of 

 the Djudjura, the last stronghold of the Kabyles, behind them, capped with snow. 



Crossing the plain of the Mitidja (Metidjeh), the route runs through a 

 country devoted largely to the raising of wine grapes, with bare hillsides, 

 or hills covered with low shrubs and small trees, and, following a custom 

 derived from France, with either side of the highway lined with trees, 

 mulberry and ash. At the base of the Atlas we see large orange-groves 

 and numerous fig trees. The lower slopes of the mountains are covered 

 with a chaparral-like growth, and as one penetrates the mountains, ascend- 

 ing gradually alongside the Oued Chiffa, he sees, among other forms, ex- 

 tensive areas of dwarf palm, doimi (Chamcerops htmiilis), which resembles 

 remotely the familiar saw-palmetto of the southern portion of the United 

 States. The leaves of the doum are gathered by the Arabs for making 

 into baskets, rope, and other useful articles, and several donkeys laden with 



