340 
according as their opposite sides are more 
or less apart from each other. Sometimes 
dry, sometimes watered by rivulets, these 
ravines continually present the most pic- 
turesque appearance; here the flat platform- 
like portions of the mountain close up the 
bottom of Thalweg, and suddenly interrupt 
its slope, when the lofty torrent, dashing 
over this interruption, falls in a cascade and 
works for itself deep hollows, all round 
which grow those plants which love a damp 
situation. Here we may meet with Scirpus 
globiferus, Caladium | nympheifolium, 
Scrophularia betonicefolia, Equisetum 
elongatum, &c. ; while many of the plants of 
Southern Europe also affect these localities; 
as the very rare Typha angustifolia, 
Mentha sylvestris, Nasturtium officinale, 
Apiumgraveolens, Arum Dracunculus,&c.; 
and the Potamogeton Canariensis may be 
seen floating upon the stagnant waters. 
Further on, portions of rock, severed 
from the neighbouring heights, form new 
obstacles to the course of the stream, and 
divide the volume of it. In proportion as 
we advance in these ravines, we find them 
becoming continually narrower, and pre- 
senting, in some places, lofty steep sides of 
extraordinary elevation. A vigorous vege- 
tation adorns these basaltic walls, the clefts 
are filled with the penetrating roots of 
plants, and numerous different species, 
clinging to the rocks, adorn them with their 
blossoms: they fringe the narrow margins, 
are collected in masses on the level layers, 
and border the mountain-torrents; there 
we find those plants which eminently de- 
light in shelter, the Canary Island Willow 
(Saliz Canariensis) with beautiful pink 
catkins, Solanum Nava (nob.), the stems 
of which are climbing, Behmeria rubra, 
and Poterium caudatum, with feathery 
branches, together with many other rare 
E species. The principal plants of the ra- 
|... vines are Adiantum reniforme, Anthemis 
 revoli , Asparagus scoparius, Athamanta 
cerviariefolia, Bosea Yervamora, Bupleu- 
rum salicifolium, Campylanthus salsoloi- 
des, Carlowizia salicifolia, Cheiranthus 
| mutabilis, C strigosa, Dactylis 
= Smithi, Digitaria igitaria Canariensis rula 
VEGETATION OF THE CANARY ISLANDS. 
glauca, Galium Neesianum, Gymnogram- | 
ma aurea, Justicia hyssopifolia, Lavan- | 
dula abrotanoides and L. pinnata, Orchis 
tridactylites (nob.), Peucedanum aureum, 
Phyllis Nobla, Ranunculus cortusefolius, 
amnus crenulatus, Ruta pinnata, Si- 
symbrium millefolium, Stachys Canarien- 
sis, Tanacetum Canariense, and Teucrium 
heterophyllum, together with many species 
of the genera Bystropogon, Cineraria, 
Convolvulus, Conyza, Echium, Hypert- 
cum, Lotus, Pyrethrum, Sideritis, Sem- 
pervivum, Sonchus, &c. 
Several causes concur to collect a great 
variety of plants in these situations, shel- 
tered from the African winds, and protected 
by the lofty cliffs that rise on either hand 
of these deep gorges from the heat of the 
sun, the trickling springs and mountain- 
torrents keep up the requisite degree of 
humidity, so that the plants of the ravines 
may immediately be distinguished from all 
others by their superior verdure and fresh- 
ness, especially from those of the coast. 
e most remarkable ravines in Téné- 
riffe are those of Badajos, in the valley of 
Guimar, and of Llarena, in that of Orota- 
va, those of Tamadaya and Infierno, in 
the southern district of the island, and 
Barranco hondo and Acentejo, on the op- 
posite coast. The ravine of Badajos is i 
bounded towards the West by the mountains 
of Ladera de Guimar, and in the opposite 
direction by the shifting soil of the valley. 
When this gorge is entered, we see 15. 
craggy sides, covered with plants, rising 
upwards of 800 feet above the torrent, 0t 
which it is necessary to climb the banks. 
A plate of this extraordinary ravine will be : 
given in our Atlas, engraved by M. St. Au- 2. 
laire, after an original design made by OUE — 
friend J. J. Williams. : 
In the Great Canaria, the ravines We — 
modified by the structure of the country, : 
and no longer appear like those of Téné- 
riffe in the form of long crevices radiating 
from the centre of the island towards its 
circumference ; their torrents roll in et 
bottom of wide valleys, the bottom is les$ 
inclosed, and their general slope not : 
much interrupted. Hence arise a moe 
