THE FLORA OF THE TURKS ISLANDS 285 



Perhaps the most singular surface-feature of Grand Turk is the 

 ridge of low hills of seolian sandstone, usually elevated fifty or sixty 

 feet above the sea, that runs along the eastern border, completely 

 obscuring, as the Rev. J. H. Pusey remarks in his handbook of the 

 group, the eastern coast from the town or western shore. There 

 are, however, other elevated portions or " rises," as in the north- 

 west, south-west, and central districts of the island. 



The ground is occupied by open scrub all over the island, except 

 in the parts where old or present attempts at cultivation have exer- 

 cised disturbing influences, or where cattle have introduced new 

 plants when brought to the island. Much of the surface, however, 

 still illustrates the original condition of the open scrub vegetation 

 that clothed it at the time of the first occupation by Europeans. 

 The soil is loamy and sandy in the flats or lower levels, sandy on the 

 gentle slopes of the hills, and rocky on the crests of the hills and on 

 their steeper sides. The glaring whiteness of the sandy and loamy 

 surface of the plains is often but partially relieved by the scrub 

 that grows upon it. The soil is calcareous all over the island, and 

 the proportion of humus is usually small. 



The Vegetation of Grand Turk. — I will deal in the first place 

 with the plants of the sandy plains, then with those of the rocky 

 upland districts and of other rocky localities, and lastly with the 

 strand vegetation. 



1. The Plants of the Sandy Plains. — The scrub vegetation of 

 the sandy plains and of the gentler hill- slopes in the interior of the 

 island extends to the summit of the hills when the surface is sandy. 

 Euphorbiaceous and Composite shrubs, with bushes of Lantana 

 involucrata, and a pretty heath-like rubiaceous shrub, Borrera 

 thymifolia, often form the greater part of the scrub. The Com- 

 posite plants include Baccharis dioica and, as I was informed by 

 Dr. Millspaugh, species of Pluchea. Amongst the Euphorbiacece 

 the Burnt-bush (Euphorbia vaginulata) is the most conspicuous; 

 but Croton hjalmarssonii, the Fire-shrub, and a Phyllanthus, probably 

 P. epiphyllanthus, grow in quantities. Where the plains merge into 

 the loamy flats bordering the salt-ponds and creeks Statice bahamensis 

 thrives. The type of scrub vegetation as displayed on Grand Turk 

 has a very peculiar aspect when the Burnt-bush abounds. Its 

 dark hue, inconspicuous leaves, and black glands give this plant a 

 sombre appearance, so that one might almost imagine that a fire 

 had scorched the ground. If it were not for the variety afforded by 

 the Borrera heath, the Lantana bushes, and the pretty Statice, the 

 scrub of this island would present a very gloomy aspect in places 

 where the Burnt-bush predominates. 



Although some of these scrub plants, like the Baccharis, the 

 Phyllanthus, and the Lantana range widely in the West Indian 

 region, several of them are purely Bahamian; and it is remarkable 

 that this scrub flora of Grand Turk derives its special impress from 

 species first described from this island, though but few of them 

 have proved to be restricted to it. Thus, Euphorbia vaginulata, 

 Croton hjalmarssonii, Borrera thymifolia, and Statice bahamensis 

 were first described by Grisebach from specimens obtained by 



