438 PLANTS, SEEDS, AND CURRENTS 



the end of June and in July. But since on the higher slopes of the 

 mountain of Agua do Pao (San Miguel) it presented itself in mature 

 fruit as well as in early flower-bud at the end of February, it would 

 seem that there may be a second flowering in the early winter, 

 though I fancy that this is exceptional. Trelease apparently found 

 the plant in fruit in summer. 



Seubert, relying on Hochstetter, states that it occurs in the moun- 

 tain woods of the Azores between 1000 and 2000 feet. This corre- 

 sponds with the results of my observations on Pico, where it ranges 

 from levels of 700 or 800 feet, where the cultivated zone gives place 

 to the lower woods, up to 2000 feet. On the slopes of Agua do 

 Pao in San Miguel it ascended to 2500 feet, but in the condition of 

 scrub. As Seubert observes it is rather uncommon in the group, 

 but I may add that it is frequent in places. Seubert (1844) gives 

 Fayal and San Miguel. Watson (1870) adds Flores and Corvo. 

 Trelease adds Santa Maria, and I have added Pico. When San 

 Jorge is better known botanically, the existence there of this shrub 

 will probably be established. On Pico it seems to be far from 

 abundant. Only at times one comes upon it in the wooded region 

 at the western end of the island; but it is fairly frequent in the 

 vicinity of Cabeza Grande. On the south side, corresponding to 

 the great mountain, it may perhaps be rather more frequent; but 

 it is never generally distributed. My notes contain no reference to 

 it either on the other slopes of the mountain or in the lake district 

 to the eastward. 



Its leaves are subcordate and broader and more obtuse than 

 European specimens; and Trelease distinguishes it as an Azorean 

 variety, subcordatum, remarking that it is apparently more closely 

 related to the Canarian V. rigidum than to V. tinus of the Mediter- 

 ranean region. Probably the Canarian species is a derivative of 

 that species (H.B.G.). 



Summary 



1. Before dealing with the modes of dispersal of the plants of 

 the Azores, it is observed that whilst the connection between the 

 plants of the woods of this group and those of Europe is either broken 

 or breaking, it is still kept up with Madeira and the Canaries. In 

 the case of the plants of the mountain moors and of those of the 

 ponds and lakes the connection with Europe has been sustained 

 down to recent times (p. 417). 



2. The plants of the woods would in most cases be dispersed by 

 frugivorous birds, such as pigeons ; and it is remarked that the break- 

 ing of the link with their European home, as indicated by their specific 

 or varietal differentiation, corresponds with the subspecific or varietal 

 differentiation of the pigeons of the Macaronesian islands (p. 418). 



3. The minute seeds or small seed-like fruits of the plants of the 

 upland moors would probably be transported in mud adhering to 

 birds' feet or in their plumage. The capacity possessed by Luzula 

 and J uncus seeds of sticking firmly to a bird's feathers after being 

 wetted is observed; but it is remarked that these small-seeded 

 plants often raise other questions than those of dispersal (p. 419). 



