Stewart—Botanical Conditions pn the Galapagos Islands, 317 
■ Zanthoxylum Fagara, the first and last of which occur near the 
shore as bushes. The trees are often covered with a heavy growth 
of Cisampelos Pareira, which usually put down large numbers of 
aerial roots, forming tangled masses, rendering traveling dif¬ 
ficult. Projecting ridges of lava occur in some places in this 
region, which are usually covered with dense mats of Polypo¬ 
dium squamatum, ands such herbaceous plants as Peperomia gali- 
oides, P. galapagensis, P. Stewarti, and other forms. The trunks 
and branches of many of the trees, especially those of Pisonia 
floribunda, are heavily covered with epiphytic plants such spe¬ 
cies as: Asplenium sulcatum, Ionopsis utricularioides, Lycopo¬ 
dium dichotomum, Polyp odium lanceolatum, P. lepidopteris, 
Peperomia galapagensis, and Tillandsia insularis being the most 
common. Phoradendron Henslovii also occurs in this region 
and higher up, but it grows much larger than it does lower down. 
Owing to the dense shade there are fewer bushes, but more herb¬ 
aceous forms than at a lower altitude. Ferns are also common. 
The region above an elevation of 500 ft. on this side of the is¬ 
land consists of two distinct parts as far as the vegetation is 
concerned. The country immediately north of Academy Bay, 
above this elevation, is covered with dense forests which extend 
towards the east side of the island. In some places north of 
Academy Bay these forests probably begin a little lower down, 
but farther east they eyidently begin somewhat higher, as they 
were not encountered at an elevation of 650 ft. when the south¬ 
east side of the island was visited. It might be said in this con¬ 
nection, that all of the botanical regions gradually ascend to¬ 
wards the east side of the island here, a condition which can be 
readily seen from the shore by the difference in color of the dif¬ 
ferent regions. The forests, just mentioned, were not visited 
but from theirappearance they must be made up largely of trees 
of Scalesia pednculata, and other species common in the Scalesia 
forests of these islands. Northwest of Academy Bay there are 
extensive areas covered with bushes on which there is a heavy 
growth of Argyreia tiliaefolia and other vines. The vegetation 
m this region was denser than in any other place visited upon 
the islands. Traveling was very slow and difficult here it being 
necessary at times to lift one member of the party up and let him 
fall at full length into the bushes and other vegetation in order 
to mash them down, for it was almost impossible to cut one’s 
way through this vegetation, loaded down with water and food 
