1 



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MR. J. ball's SPICTLEOIUM FLOE-S) makoocan^. 299 



Cyperacese only 25 species; and very few of these belong to sub- 

 alpine or alpine types. 



In my opinion, however, the general numerical results obtained 

 from tabular statements, such as those I have already given, are 

 very likely to mislead unless critically controlled. The bounda- 

 ries of states are determined by historical accidents, and, to a 

 slight extent only, by physical geography ; and it often happens 

 that in general summaries the characteristics of what form natu- 

 ral divisions of the earth's surface are masked by these being 

 thrown in along with others wherein different conditions predo- 

 minate. 



Bearing in mind that the entire of Marocco in a botanical 

 sense forms part of the Mediterranean region, it includes within 

 its boundaries several provinces, partly corresponding to geogra- 

 phical limits, which exhibit well-marked features, and are distin- 

 guished by a considerable number of species not common to other 



provinces. 



Speaking broadly, and excluding the wide-spread species, which 

 belong to two types — 1st, those widely spread through the cooler 

 temperate zone, either Old World or extending to the 'New 

 World, and, 2nd, tropical species which extend more or less 

 widely into the warmer temperate regions — there are within the 

 Marocco territory five elements, of which four correspond more 

 or less closely to geographical limits. 



The Mediterranean flora, including within that term species 

 confined to that region and widely spread throughout it, forms 

 what may be considered as the substratum extendiug throughout 

 the whole territory, excepting only the higher range of the Great 

 Atlas. Overlying, so to say, this substratum, we find in the 

 northern extremity of Marocco a strong infusion of another 

 element, which is now generally denominated the Peninsular 

 flora. This is recognizable, even to the unscientific observer, by 

 the number of conspicuous flowering shrubs, including, along 

 with more wide-spread species of those genera, several showy 

 species of Cistus and Erica, with numerous herbaceous plants, 

 such as the curious DrosopTiyllum Itisitanicum. We do not know 

 the limits of this province along the coast between Tetuan and 

 the Algerian frontier; but it does not seem to extend more than 

 30 or 40 miles southward from Tangier and Cape Spartel, and in 

 point of fact nearly all the 96 species set down as common 



Marocco 



z2 



,? 



