AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



465 



bis, having the habit of Trichomanes, growing in the slight and dry 

 ravine ; and Cenomyce rangiferina, the reindeer lichen, frequent. 



The Fourth day, our party recommenced ascending the tumbling 

 lava-strearas ; from their freshness, almost requiring boldness to face 

 them ; lest those above in the distance should be in the fluid state. 

 Of the plants just enumerated, many soon disappeared ; the only addi- 

 tional species extending from below, being Ramex (No. 2). Of the 

 few species belonging to the upper portion of the mountain, the Argy- 

 roxiphiiim and the stellate-leaved geii. Compos, began to show them- 

 selves above the sea of clouds, as already noted : next in order, the 

 low Erigeron-like gen. Asteroid commenced, after about two miles, at 

 the elevation of 6600 feet. No farther additions to yesterday's List 

 were met with in a careful search throughout the day : the surface 

 above the elevation of 8000 feet consisting in much the larger propor- 

 tion of exposed lava, and plants becoming rare. 



We stopped for the night and established our 4th Station at the 

 elevation of about 9000 feet; a little beyond a cave underneath the 

 lava-surface, that afforded shelter to the natives who accompanied us. 

 Soil had now chiefly disappeared ; and plants were thinly scattered, in 

 something like the proportion of a single stock to a hundred square 

 yards of surface ; lichens having entirely ceased. 



The Fifth day, I made an excursion Northward about four miles, 

 keeping the level of the Station as nearly as possible ; but returning 

 by a higher level farther up the mountain. I did not on this occasion 

 particularly note the plants : but there were no additional species. — 

 In my subsequent excursions, I was careful to record all the species 

 that could be found growing above the level of the 4th Station ; and 

 the meagre list is here inserted : the Erigeron-like gen. Asteroid, bis, 

 ceasing half a mile beyond at the elevation of 9200 feet; gen. Compos. 

 with stellate leaves, bis, ceasing at this Station ; Vaccinium (No. 3), 

 with elongate blue berries, commencing at this Station, and ceasing at 

 the elevation of 11,000 feet ; gen. Epacrid., bis, ceasing at this Station; 

 Carex or gen. Caric, bis, ceasing a mile beyond, at the elevation of 

 9400 feet; Agrostis, commencing above this Station, and ceasing at the 

 elevation of 11,000 feet; some of the grasses seen lower down extend- 

 ing to this Station ; Polypodium, bis, extending above this Station ; 

 Pieris ternifolia ?, bis, found above this Station by Mr. Brackenridge ; 

 Aspleniutn with the habit of Woodsia, bis, growing in cracks, and one 

 of the plants extending highest up the mountain ; Asplenhmi, Tricho- 



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