414 PLANTS, SEEDS, AND CURRENTS 



to existing means of dispersal, he was in the main correct, the great 

 mass of the plants being European species. The characteristic plants 

 of the Laurel woods, being often peculiar to Macaronesia, do not 

 come into this category ; but it will be convenient to deal with their 

 dispersal here. To the subject of the agencies of seed-dispersal 

 in connection with the Azores, the next chapter will be largely 

 devoted. 



Summary 



1. In dealing with the proportion of indigenous Azorean plants, 

 it is first pointed out that the native flora was in all probability 

 extremely limited. Although it is likely that the total number of 

 the alien and native plants would now approach 600, it is held that 

 whilst the original flora did not comprise 200 species, the plants 

 that gave character to the vegetation did not amount to 100. Multi- 

 tudes of plants have been introduced, both intentionally and un- 

 intentionally, during the period of almost five centuries that has 

 elapsed since the discovery of the group. Stress is laid on the im- 

 portance of eliminating the effects of man's agency from every 

 flora, and it is observed that such an inquiry would be almost as 

 ruthless in its effects on the British flora as it undoubtedly would 

 be in the case of the flora of the Azores (pp. 389-91). 



2. The original forests of these islands were composed of ever- 

 green shrubs and trees. Among the trees were Tree-Heaths (Erica), 

 Laurels (Laurus and Persea), Fayas (Myrica), Hollies (Ilex), Tree- 

 Euphorbias, Junipers, Yews (Taxus), species of Rhamnus, Picconia, 

 etc. Among the shrubs were species of Daphne, Vaccinium, and 

 Viburnum (Laurestinus), and Myrsine africana (p. 391). 



3. The prevailing impression that the original forests were similar 

 to the present scrub growth is shown to be an error. There is 

 abundant evidence that the islands were heavily timbered when 

 first discovered, and that the destruction of the native woods, with 

 their large trees, which has been in operation for centuries, has reduced 

 the woods to their present condition. The process is still actively 

 continued, and it is evident that for generations the visitor has 

 formed his impressions of the native trees from " young wood." 

 The trees attain a respectable size when preserved; but ages of 

 unhindered growth would be required for the development of the 

 timber forests that would supply materials, as in the early days, 

 for erecting churches and building small ships (pp. 392-8). 



4. The decrease in size of the timber is well illustrated in the case 

 of the large size of the original Juniper trees as compared with the 

 stunted crooked Junipers of our own times. Amongst the trunks 

 of large trees that have been unearthed from the ashes and other 

 materials thrown out during the early volcanic eruptions are the 

 logs of this Juniper, which must have attained in those times the 

 usual large dimensions of the species (J. oxycedrus). As we learn 

 from the old writers, the value placed on its timber led to the de- 

 struction of this fine tree. Although volcanic eruptions must have 

 played their part in the destruction of the original forests, the agency 

 of man and animals has been the most effective. As the source of 



