8 Salter, Flora of Teneriffe. 



Of the large number of genera characteristic of this zone it is 

 only possible to allude to a few, and it should be borne in mind that 

 many of those which find their chief development here are almost 

 equally at home at either a higher or a lower level. 



Sempervivum. The flora of the island affords no more re- 

 markable sight than that of the great leaf rosettes, 35 cm. in dia- 

 meter, of Monium tabulcejorme, thickly studding the rocks above 

 the coast-road near San Juan de la Rambla, or those of an allied 

 species upon damp rocks above the Anaga lighthouse. Equally 

 striking is A. holochrysum upon the tiled roofs in the Villa Orotava 

 and the branched, woody A . canariense in the dry barrancos sending 

 up its flowering stem to a height of three feet. Some species, as 

 A . barbatum and Smithii, are characteristic of the south side of the 

 island. Aichryson hirtum and sub-pilosum are annuals. 



Sonchus. This is peculiarly the zone of the arborescent species 

 of Sonchus (S. jacquini, radicatus, gummifer, leptocephalus, arbor eus), 

 popularly " bush " or " tree " dandelions. They attract the notice 

 even of non-botanical visitors, especially when in flower from January 

 to March. 



Convolvulus. Of the non-scandent species, C.fioridus is con- 

 spicuous upon the sides of the ravines on account of its masses of 

 snowy flowers. The almost leafless C. scoparius, said to have become 

 scarce owing to the former demand for its roots (" Canary Rose- 

 wood "), from which a perfume was distilled, was found to be still 

 abundant near the seaward termination of the Ladera de Gu'imar. 



Echium. Several species (E. gigantium, strictum, aculeatum) 

 are conspicuous shrubs of the dry barrancos. Echium simplex, the 

 '■' Pride of Teneriffe," only found in the northern coast region of 

 Anaga, sends up in May a single axis of inflorescence to a height of 

 6 to 8 feet. 



Lavandula. L. stcechas, with conspicuous attractive bracts, was 

 seen on dry downs above La Laguna. L. abrotanoides is everywhere 

 ornamental in rough, rocky localities. L. pinnata, var. Buchii, is 

 confined to the north coast. 



Euphorbia. E. regis-Jubce and balsamifera, before referred to, 

 are almost equally characteristic of this zone. Another fine 

 arborescent species is E. atropurpurea, with deep red floral bracts. 



Draccena. D. draco is chiefly seen at the present day as a 

 specimen tree in gardens and public squares. Occasionally, as when 

 clinging to the uppermost rocks near the sky-line at the head of the 

 Barranco de Badajos or on cliffs below Taganana, it appears as an 

 evident and striking element in the endemic flora. Since the de- 

 struction in 1867 of the world-famed example at Orotava, the dragon- 

 tree at Icod (12^ m. in circumference at 3 m. from the ground) is the 

 largest in the island. There are other well-known specimens at La 

 Laguna and at Realejo. 



Ferns. Adapted to the driest of rocky situations are Davallia 

 canariensis, Notochlcena marantce and vellea, Cheilanthes fragrans 

 and Ceterach aureum. The first-named loses its fronds at the com- 

 mencement of the dry season ; the others sestivate with shrivelled 



