July, 1890. 
A TOUR THROUGH SPAIN. 
157 
A TOUR THROUGH SPAIN: 
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FLORA OF THE 
COUNTRY.* 
BY MR. G. C. DRUCE, M.A., F.L.S. 
The Flora of Spain is of remarkable richness and variety, 
and, according to Wilkomm and Lange's “ Flora Hispanica,” 
the number of species recorded in Spain is 
Ferns and allies ... 
66 species. 
... 26 
Gymnosperms 
86 
... 10 
Angiosperms 
840 
... 200 
Apetalae 
242 ,, 
... 69 
Gamopetalae 
1,749 
... 341 
Dialypetalae 
2,159 
... 384 
5,092 
1,030 
5 5 
5 5 
55 
5 5 
The richness of the Flora is specially exemplified in the 
more showy orders, so that while the number of Juncacece is 
only 37, and of the Cyperacece only 108, there are 665 
Composite, 240 Labials , 499 Leguminifers, and 300 Cruci¬ 
fers. In the writer’s recent tour through Spain, little 
botanising was done round Barcelona, but a pleasant time 
was enjoyed in the busy maritime city. The public gardens 
are extensive and well laid out. The climate is singularly 
dry for a seaport; rain falls on an average only sixty-seven 
days in the year. The country between the frontier was, in 
places, very beautiful from the vast orchards of peach and 
almond trees in bloom. The Cathedral is a very beautiful 
one, and its quiet courtyard, with the orange trees and 
fountains, affords a charming retreat. 
Tarragona afforded some interesting plants, including 
Hypecoum grcindiflorum, Cham sr ops humilis , Glaucium phce- 
niceum, Ijavandula Stschas, Paronychia argentea, Plantago 
Psyllium , Fumaria agraria , F. spicata, F. muralis , Asphodelus , 
Salvia sp., Centaurea sp. var., etc., etc. The Cathedral is very 
handsome and the Cyclopean Roman walls and aqueduct 
well repay a visit. 
Valencia, situated in a rich valley, is another interesting 
city. The Cathedral, occupying the site of a temple of Diana, 
was begun in 1262. The district round the city is called the 
Huerta, and on this irrigated soil are grown rice, peas, maize, 
monkey nuts, carrob beans, almonds, peaches, grapes, 
oranges, palms, figs, tomatoes, capsicums, etc., in great 
* Read before the Birmingham Natural History and Microscopical 
Society, and the Oxfordshire Natural History Society. 
