524 MR. n. GROVES ON THE 



source of seed-distribution, we become surprised, in glancing 

 through the Italian floras, to observe that so few Eastern or 

 Greek plants are recorded in the south-east of the Italian 

 peninsula. 



It was this reflection, stimulated by a visit made to some 

 relatives in the district, that led me to take a great interest in its 

 flora. Since then I have been able to add about a dozen 

 Greek or Eastern species to the Italian lists. And who knows 

 how many others are yet to be found by local botanists, if such 

 exist ! At all events they would not have to travel thirty-six 

 hours, as I have to do from Florence, before arriving on the happy 

 hunting-grounds. Tet until such botanists do appear, my friends 

 must be content with such meagre fare as I can provide for them ; 

 and bewail the fact that at present no one is to be found to 

 tread in the steps of Marinosci, who seems to have explored the 

 Province of Lecce more completely than Gussone or Tenori. 

 An analysis of the flora of the district, based on my present 

 knowledge of it, will, I hope, prove acceptable to those who have 

 not had the opportunity of observing the vegetable products of 

 this corner of Italy. "With this idea I have gone through the 

 list I intend publishing in extenso at no distant date, in order 

 that I might set forth its more salient features and note its more 

 interesting species, in the form of the present paper. 



If we examine the distribution of plants in the South of Europe, 

 we shall find that it consists of several groups formed by a variety 

 of influences, such as diversity of soil and position, modified 

 frequently by intervening seas or mountains. There is one 

 group, which we may call the General Mediterranean Flora, 

 whose members occupy the coasts and adjacent parts of the whole 

 continent, extending from Spain through France and Italy to 

 Greece, where, however, they become crowded out by a more 

 Eastern flora, and are, moreover, checked by the strong currents 

 of the Adriatic Sea. A second and more interesting group con- 

 sists of species that are not found in the South of France nor oa 

 the Riviera and central parts of Italy, and which seems to occupy 

 a territory south of 41 degrees. This zone embraces Sicily and 

 the southern parts of Italy, with Spain and the Balearic Isles, as 

 well as Greece ; and may be styled the South Mediterranean 

 Flora. But there are some plants in this belt which have a 

 limited extension longitudinally ; and for the sake of bringing tbeir 

 limited distribution into relief, I have thought it profitable to 



