262 



We have just considered the isle of Teneriffe 

 under mere geological points of view ; we have 

 seen the Peak towering amid fractured strata of 

 basalt and mandelstein ; let us examine how 

 these melted matters have been gradually 

 adorned with vegetable clothing, what is the 

 distribution of plants on the steep declivity of 

 the volcano, and what is tiie aspect or physi- 

 ognomy of vegetation in the Canary islands. 



In the northern part of the temperate zone, 

 the cryptogamous plants are the firsts that cover 

 the stony crust of the Globe. The lichens and 

 mosses, that display their foliage beneath the 

 snows, are succeeded by gramina, and other pha-^ 

 nerogamous plants. This order of vegetation is 

 different on the borders of the torrid zone, and 

 in the countries between the tropics. We there 

 find, it is true, whatever some travellers may 

 have asserted, not only on the mountains, but 

 also in humid and shady places, almost on a 

 level with the ocean, funaria, dicranum, and 

 bryum ; and these genera, among their numer- 

 ous species, exhibit several, which are common 

 to Lapland, the Peak of Teneriffe, and the Blue 

 Mountains of Jamaica*. Nevertheless, in gene- 



* This extraordinary fact, of which we shall speak here- 

 after, was first observed by Mr. Swarz. It was confirmed 

 by the careful examination, which Mr. Willdenow made of 

 our herbals, especially of the collection of cryptogamous 

 plants, which we gathered on the tops of the Andes, in a re- 



