sides of the ravines, while the slightest coating of earth on the
same rock presents us with a higher class of lichen, and a moss ;
as this earth augments, we find the sempervivte and saxifrageté, and
thus proceed, until we are shaded by thick groves of chestnuts '. e
The variety of aspect, the different quantities of moisture (either
owing to the constant vicinity of the clouds or the torrents), the
greater or less exposure to the sea-breezes, all conspire to render
the division of plants into regions extremely difficult. My first
visit was to the eastern side of the island, where I fancied I could
decide on the different heights of plants, but on going to the
westward, there was so little accordance between thé two, that I
can only now venture upon the greater outlines. I have divided
my list into families, that a comparison may be. made between
the proportions they bear to each other, and that the total absence
of others may bê more immediately noticed. In doing this, it will
be observed, that I have mentioned several, which are as yet but
premised, having only been published in the monographs of dis-;
tinguished botanists, but which will, in all probability, with many
others merely intimated, be generally known when the sëcond
edition of M. de Jussieu’s Genera Plantarum appears; an event
which is earnestly desired by all followers of the natural system.
I am not in possession of any specific descriptions of cryptogamia,
consequently, have only been able to notice genera, with a few
exceptions. With these explanations, I submit the little that I
have done, rather than be totally idle in this respect, whilst waiting
for a passage to Africa, where my endeavours will, I hope,
produce more important results. See Appendix, No. I.
I have given what may be called the first, or Vine region, a
* Baron de Humboldt observes, that, in countries near thé tropics, succulent plants
appear before mosses ; but I found Madeira to accord with the general rules for the
progress of vegetation.
height of 2700 feet above the level of the sea ; at the extremity of
this, the vine can scarcely be called flourishing, as no wine can be
made from it, still it produces eatable fruit. I am confirmed in
giving it this height, from finding the plants of tropical countries
flourishing, with cultivation, to the same extentk. Taking the
extreme of the Baron de Humboldt’s vine region (corrected after
M. von Buch), there is a difference of about 170 feet between us ;
but the productions of the two exactly accord, excepting, that I
found a greater variety and mixture of European and tropical
plants*. M. von Buch has an intermediate region of African forms,
which will not apply to Madeira ; and it must be understood, that
all these plants do not ascend to the extremity of this région ; for
instance, the little sida carpinifolia exists in profusion in the lower
parts of the island, but totally disappears after we have ascended
1000 feet ; the tropical plants are of course chiefly confined to the
gardens at, or near, Funchal, tyc.; the few mentioned in the note
as confirming the extent of this region, are successfully cultivated
in the garden of Mr. Veitch’s Quinta, situated at its extremity.
The second, still taking the extreme, extends to 3700 feet. It
cannot be compared to the laurel zone, (regio sylvatica,) of Baron
de Humboldt (reaching to about 4360 feet), but appears intermediate,
between the vine and laurel zone of Madeira. The broom
11 According to Chaptal, the vine is found wild in Europe as far as 45° north, and
Catesby assigns the same limit in America.
1 In it grow spontaneously, the Agave, Arundo, Canna, Citrus, Cactus, Dracoena,
Digitalis, Dioscorea, Euphorbia, Filices, Fagus, Ficus, Hepaticæ, Jasminum, Liche-
nes, Lonicera, Musa, Myrtus, Phytolacca, Pelargonium, Ruhus, Rosa, Sida, Sac-
charum, Tamarisk, Viola, Vinca, 8çc. ; and, with cultivation, Aloe, Arackis, Agave,
Annona, Bromelia, Bambusa, Co fea, Carica, Citrus, Canna, Datura, Dahlia, Doli-
chos, Duranta ; European fruits, Erythrinum, Gossypium, Guinea-grass, Gomphrena,
Hibiscus, Jatropha, Justicia, Lantana, Laurus, Mangifera, Maranta, Melia,
Nerium, Olea, Psidium, Populus, Quercus, Ricinus, Rosa, Solanum, Sicyos, Vinca,
Zea, S[C., 8çc.