376 PLANTS, SEEDS, AND CURRENTS 



Laurestinus (Viburnum tinus) is absent in some places and fairly- 

 represented in others. The " Pao branco " (Picconia excelsa) is 

 now very rare, its timber being much appreciated by the islanders. 

 However, single trees may occasionally be noticed in the woods; 

 but as a rule it finds a refuge in some inaccessible gulch or small 

 crater. Osmunda regalis may be observed at levels exceeding 1000 

 feet in moist surroundings at the margin of the woods. Amongst 

 the tree-climbers are a Smilax and Hedera canariensis, the undergrowth 

 being generally formed by species of Rubus, Myrsine africana, the 

 Ivy just named, and Pteris aquilina. In the open districts Calluna 

 vulgaris is abundant. 



But the lower woods are essentially the zone of the Faya tree, 

 and here, as in the case of nearly all the most conspicuous features 

 in the vertical distribution of plants on this mountain, we have the 

 corroborative testimony of the Hochstetters. Just as the Junipers 

 are restricted to the upper woods, so Myrica faya is characteristic 

 of the woods below, and rarely extends much above 2000 feet, except 

 when it finds shelter in some gulch or small crater as before described. 

 The trees of the lower woods that reach the coast are mainly the 

 Faya and the Tree-Heath (Erica azorica). Two plants range through 

 the whole height of the mountain, Calluna vulgaris and the narrow- 

 leaved variety of Thymus serpyllum. They grow not only on the 

 old lava-flows as they reach the coast, but also on the lava surface 

 of the summit, and on various kinds of soil, both rich and poor, in 

 the intervening levels. 



The Vegetation of the Upland Moors of the Mountain of 

 Pico. — There remains for consideration the vegetation of the upland 

 moors, which are generally confined between the levels of 2000 and 

 4000 feet. The moors form a belt around the greater part of the 

 mountain, but are crossed at intervals by broad strips of woodland. 

 Lying as they do within the rainy zone, their conditions are nearly 

 as moist as those of the upper woods, and they largely usurp their 

 place. They are used as pasture-land for cattle, the lower portions 

 being under private ownership, while the upper parts marked off 

 by a high wall, usually about 3000 feet above the sea, are known as 

 the Baldios or Common-lands. These upland moors, which doubt- 

 less have been greatly extended by deforestation since the colonisa- 

 tion of the group, are characteristic of all the larger islands. In their 

 general features and in the association of their plants they often 

 display, as already observed, a striking resemblance to Dartmoor. 



Their surfaces on the slopes of this mountain are often marked by 

 linear copses of the Tree-Heath, which present a variety of strange 

 patterns, that look from a distance like huge hieroglyphs on a light 

 green ground. Two objects have here been served. In availing 

 himself of the natural growth of the trees, the land-owner has so 

 trimmed and directed the growth of the original copse, that at the 

 expense of as little ground as possible he obtains shade for his cattle 

 in summer and shelter from the cold winds in winter. In the other 

 case, whilst clearing his land he has preserved the heath trees, 

 when they are frequent, near his boundary lines, and has allowed 

 them to propagate themselves only on the borders of his property, 



