THE CANAEIAN FLORA. 405 



Between these extreme cases there are many intermediate 

 ones ; and there are others of an exceptional character, as Ice- 

 land, which, though far removed from any part of Europe, 

 has but one flowering plant not found on that continent [Pla- 

 tanthera hyperlorea) ; and Ceylon, which though it is almost 

 united to- the Peninsula of Hindostan, yet in many respects 

 differs greatly from that peninsula in its Flora. 



Amongst the exceptional cases to continental proximity 

 being accompanied by close botanical relationship is the Flora of 

 the Canarian Archipelago, which d.iffers so greatly from that of 

 the northern part of its neighbouring continent, namely, from 

 that of Marocco,' that it demands notice in any work treating 

 of the vegetation of the latter country. 



This diversity between the Maroccan and Canarian Floras 

 has been pointed out in Ball's ' Introductory Observations to the 

 Spicilegium Florse Maroccanfe,' ^ where it appears that whilst 

 Marocco, out of 1,627 species of flowering plants, contains 165 

 endemic plants, it has only 15 which are confined to it and to 

 the Canaries, or to it and Madeira. And Ball goes on to re- 

 mark (p. 301), in respect of these few species common to both 

 Floras : ' I think it is safe to say that the facts rather tend to 

 show the accidental diffusion of a few Maearonesian' species on 

 the adjacent coast of Africa, than to indicate the direct con- 

 nection between the continent and those islands within a geo- 

 logical period at all recent.' 



Were this diversity due solely or chiefly to the Canaries want- 

 ing many Maroccan plants, the inquiry would not be a pressing 

 one ; but as to this deficiency is to be added the presence in the 

 Canaries of many indigenous species, and even several genera ^ 



' The Canary Islands are situated about 3° farther south, and 280 

 miles distant from Mogador. They are thus opposite a much more 

 hot and arid part of the African coast than that north of the Atlas. 

 The large island of Fuertaventura is only about 70 miles from the 

 continent south of Oued Noun. 



^ Journ. Linn. Soo. vol. xvi. p. 297. 



' A term first applied by Webb to the Flora of the Canarian Archi- 

 pelago, but which should also include the Flora of Madeira (as Ball 

 makes it do in the above mention of it), the Azores, and perhaps also of 

 the Cape de Verde Islands, which together form either a distinct bota- 

 nical province, or a marked subdivision of the Mediterranean province. 



• No less than nine very distinct genera are confined to the Canaries 

 or Madeira or both : — Parolinia, Bencomia, Tisnea, Phyllis, Plocama, 



