284 M. CASIMIR DE CANDOLLE ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL 
the Mediterranean, while Cedrela sinensis is now cultivated in the open air, in the 
Jardin des Plantes at Paris. 
The existence of these few eccentric stations, in both hemispheres, clearly demonstrates 
that the fact of the Meliaceæ being confined to intertropical or subtropical regions is 
not to be accounted for solely by the present climatic conditions, and must, to a great 
extent, have resulted from other more remote causes of a geological nature. But this is 
a consideration on which I need not dwell, since it is so thoroughly in accordance with 
the modern notions of geographical botany. 
A general view of the distribution of Meliacez is shown in a map (Pl XXXI.) 
accompanying this paper, the coloured and shaded portions of which indieate the regions 
where that order is more or less represented. А dark green line, drawn round the outer 
extremities of those regions, embraces their whole area, including even such eccentric 
and exceptional stations as Pekin or New Zealand. 
А first inspection of this map would rather lead to considering South America the 
principal centre of habitation for the Meliacex, as they here occupy a larger con- 
tinuous area than іп any other part of the world. But it will presently be shown that 
the study of the geographical distribution of all the genera. composing the family 
points decidedly to a totally different conclusion. 
In order to arrive at a satisfactory conception of the case as it stands, I have drawn 
up a synoptic Table (Pl. XXX.) of the number of species of each genus in all the 
countries where Meliacez are known to exist. | 
On the left of the Table is a list of the genera, 35 in number, following each other 
according to their morphological affinities; whilst in the upper part I have entered 
the names of all the various countries which are to be taken into account. Those 
names are written in their geographical order from west to east, beginning with Chile 
on the left, and ending with the Navigators' archipelago on the right side of the Table. 
For the sake of greater precision, the prineipal provinees of South America are 
recorded separately one from the other, Africa and Australia being also subdivided into 
less extensive regions. Тһе western peninsula of India, or India proper, is, for the same 
reason, kept apart from Birmania and Malacea, which are grouped together with Cochin- 
china. Finally, more distinct, but relatively small, regions or islands have also been 
grouped together, such as Columbia with Venezuela, Borneo with Celebes, &с. 
Before taking into consideration the contents of the synoptie Table, it is necessary to 
offer a few remarks concerning the nature of the various genera to which it refers. It 
will be observed that, with the single exception of 4zadirachto, A. Juss., all of them have 
been admitted by Dr. Hooker, in Bentham and Hooker's ‘Genera Plantarum,’ as well 
as subsequently by Dr. Hiern, in his important contribution to the flora of British 
India. On the other hand, in conformity with Miquel’s and with Dr. Baillon's views, some 
. few of the generic names contained in the above-mentioned ‘Genera Plantarum ° have 
3 been given up. I have, however, retained the genus Walsura, which Dr. Baillon has 
joined to Неупеа, and the name Dysoxylum, which corresponds to his Epicharis. Thus 
"ë find E it, with very few exceptions, all the genera referred to in my synoptic Table 
