Stewart—Botanical Conditions s on the Galapagos Islands . 311 
dant remains of Cyperus rubiginosus. The inner side of the 
ridge, to the east of this crater, is covered with a dense growth 
of Zanthoxylum and other bushes all of which were covered with 
lichens and leafy Hepaties. Along the top of this ridge, above 
an elevation of 1,200 ft., there were bushes and small trees of 
Acnistus ellipticus, Chiococca alba, Croton Scouleri var. brevi- 
folius, Erigeron tenuifolius, Pisonia floribunda, Scalesia Baurii, 
Tournefortia psilostachya, T. Pubescens, and Zanthoxylum Fa- 
gar a. Exposed rocks in this region are often covered with a 
thick growth of ferns which have formed a considerable amount 
of vegetable mold upon them. Tillandsia insularis, and two epi¬ 
phytic species of ferns, Polypodium lanceolatum, and P. lepidop- 
teris occur to some extent upon the bushes in this region. Sev¬ 
eral grassy areas extend down the east side from the top of this 
ridge on which there are also small specimens of Opuntia gala- 
pageia. 
No large trees occur around the top of this island, although 
Pisonia floribunda, and Zanthoxylum Fagara, which grow here, 
usually attain the size of large trees at similar elevations on 
the other islands where these species occur. The absence of 
large trees is probably due to the strong winds which strike the 
top of the island during a greater part of the year, and thus 
prevent the growth of large vegetation. 
Botanical regions are not well marked here but practically all 
of the plants which occur below an elevation of 900 ft. are forms 
typical of the dry regions, above this elevation many of the 
plants commonly found in the transition region make their ap¬ 
pearance. 
Gardner Island, Near Charles Island. 
This island is situated about four miles off the east side of 
Charles Island. It is the smaller one of the two Gardner Is¬ 
lands, which occur in this group, and consists of an immense mass 
of lava several hundred feet high. The shores are steep in most 
places and are made up of tall cliffs some of which are perpen¬ 
dicular. Landing is dangerous, and can only be done with safety 
when the surrounding water is comparatively still. 
The writer did not land upon this island so that the only 
plants collected were by other members of the party. They are 
few in number and in no way represent the entire flora. The is¬ 
land appeared from the vessel to be covered with low bushes 
