118 
ZOXE OF HEATHS, ETC. 
extremely beautiful, the Arbutus calliearpa, and other ever* 
gieen trees of the family of myrtles. Bindweeds, and an 
uy very different from that of Europe (Hedera canariensis) 
entwine the trunks of the laurels; at their feet vegetate a 
numberless quantity of ferns,* of which three speciesf alone 
descend as low as the region of the vines. The soil, covered 
with mosses and tender grass, is enriched with the flowcre 
fhc Campanula aurea, the Chrysanthemum pinnatifidam, 
the Mentha canariensis, and several bushy species of Hype- 
ricum. J Plantations of wild and grafted chesnut-trees form 
a broad border round the region of the springs, which is the 
greenest and most agreeable of the whole. 
In the third zone (beginning at nine hundred toises of 
absolute height), the last groups of Arbutus, of Myrica lava, 
and of that beautiful heath known to the natives by the 
name of Peso, appear. 'Ibis zone, four hundred toises in 
breadth, is entirely filled by a vast forest of pines, amon a 
whicn mingles the Juniperus eedro of Broussonnet. The 
leaves of these pines are very long and stiff, and they sprout 
sometimes by pairs, but oftener by tlirees in one sheath 
Having had no opportunity of examining the fructification 
we cannot say whether this species, which has the appear- 
ance of the Scotch fir, is really different from the eighteen 
species of pines with which we are already acquainted in 
Europe. M. Decandolle is of opinion that the pine of 
Tcnerilfo is equally distinct from the Finns atlantica of 
Hie neighbouring mountains of Mogador. and from the pine 
of Aleppo, § which belongs to the basin of the Mediter- 
ranean, and does not appear to have passed the Pillars of 
Hercules. We met with these last pines on the slope of the 
leak, near twelve hundred toises above the level of the 
* Woodwnrdia radicaas, Asplenium palmatum, A. canariensis, A lati- 
fohum, Notlialtena subcordata, Trichomanes canariensis, ’I’, sneeiosum, 
ami JJavallia canariensis. 
t Two Acrosticbuma anil (lie Ophyoglossmu Iusitmiicum. 
: Hypericum eanariense, II. floribundum, and II, glandulosttm. 
i Pinus halenensis, M. Decandolle observes, I luit this species, which 
is not found in Portugal, but grows on the Mediterranean shores of France 
°P“ n > and Italy, m Asia Minor, and in Barbary, would he better named 
I inus meditevranea. It composes the principal part of the pine-forests 
of Hie south-east of Fiance, where Gouan and Gerard have confounded 
it with the Pinus sylvestris. It comprehends the Pinus halepensis, Mill., 
I.amb., and Desfont., and the Pinus maritima, Lamb. 
