374 PLANTS, SEEDS, AND CURRENTS 



of Pico. Amongst the other flowering plants that find a sanctuary 

 in these Calluna beds at altitudes of 5000 to 6000 feet are delicate 

 herbaceous plants, like Polygala vulgaris, Erythrcea massoni, and 

 Lysimachia nemorum, and a hardy plant like V actinium cylindraceum, 

 which, however, instead of growing nine or ten feet high, as in the 

 woods, is here reduced to five or six inches. Of the ferns and lycopods 

 that are able to hold their own at these high levels of 5000 to 6000 

 feet, Blechnum spicant takes refuge in the Ling beds, whilst Lyco- 

 podium selago seeks a shelter in the hollows of the lava. 



The impression one forms while descending these steep lava 

 slopes of the upper-third of the mountain is that many of the plants 

 characteristic of the lower levels would reach the summit, if the 

 soil- conditions allowed it. This was also the opinion of Morelet, 

 the French zoologist, who ascribed the penury of the higher levels 

 to the nature of the surface and to the steep angle of the slopes. 

 The repressive influence of the fierce winds that blow around these 

 heights during much of the year would be mainly found in the dwarf- 

 ing of the trees and shrubs. That several of the plants which are 

 at home in the upper woods between 2000 and 4000 feet can grow 

 at levels between 5000 and 6000 feet is shown in their readiness to 

 seek shelter at these heights in the small craters and gulches, in 

 the broken-down lava caverns, and in the numerous fissures, cracks, 

 and holes. Here we find the Tree-Euphorbia (E. stygiana), the 

 Azorean Holly (Ilex perado), Daphne laureola, Myrsine africana, 

 Laurus canariensis, etc., species that are not to be seen on the wind- 

 swept slopes near-by; whilst the Juniper and V actinium may be 

 observed growing four or five feet high in a pit and only four or five 

 inches high when exposed at its borders. 



But apart from these sanctuaries on the higher slopes for the more 

 adventurous plants of the woods below, stunted specimens of the 

 Tree-Heath (Erica azorica), which form the outposts of the woods, 

 sometimes ascend, as already observed, the lower slopes of the steep 

 upper-third of the mountain to between 5500 and 6000 feet. When 

 we get off these steep slopes at a level of from 4500 to 5000 feet, 

 the soil- conditions become more favourable. Here the Tree-Heath 

 begins to assert its arborescent habit, and it is associated with Juniper 

 trees of fair size, the Juniper growing well on suitable ground at 

 these altitudes. 



We now enter the cloud-belt, or rainy zone, which in its limits 

 of 2000 to 5000 feet rudely corresponds to the upper mountain 

 woods. Amongst the trees, Erica azorica is often predominant, 

 attaining its greatest development in the middle of the belt and grow- 

 ing, when left undisturbed, to a height of fifteen, eighteen, and even 

 twenty feet ; while in the open woodland bushes of Calluna vulgaris 

 may be nearly as abundant. It is between 3000 and 4000 feet that 

 the upper woods display their best growth, and this is well seen 

 on the south-east slopes of the mountain. Although on account 

 of the woodcutter's destructive influence, exercised through cen- 

 turies, the wood is small, the height of the trees not usually exceeding 

 fifteen or sixteen feet, several of them when left alone can attain, 

 as below shown, twice this height. Among the other characteristic 



