12 ORIGIN OF THE 
same as that of the Scandinavian mountains, apprcaches rather towards 
the antediluvian vegetation, inasmuch as the numerical proportion of 
flowerless plants is larger, of apetalous pentameroüs somewhat larger, 
of petaliferous pentamerous considerably less. Comparing together the 
floras of Lapland, or the Scandinavian mountains, and the Alps, with 
reference to the numerical extent of their large groupes, we shall 
perecive a more marked discrepancy among them, than between the 
floras of the Alps and Germany, Scandinavia and Lapland; and yet 
if we keep in view the habitual characters of the floras, their families, 
genera, and even species, the analogy of the flora of the Alps with 
that of the Scandinavian mountains, becomes far more manifest, than 
the analogy which exists between them and the corresponding lower 
countries, and which, according to climate, might be expected to pre- 
vail. This will become evident by combining together the preceding 
schedules :— 
Antediluvian. A 
Before Chalk. Amer Germany. Alps. | Scand. Lapp. 
Flowerless : ‘81 -02 ‘02 ‘02 08 — ‘05 
Trimerons vue uut “06 “18 “BY A36 1-98 — 31 
Pentamerous. 2 e EER 
apetalous, . . . 18 45 08 ‘04 | ‘08 09 
petaliferous >. . . 61 “40 "69 X8 | 63 255 
Another peculiarity in one part of the alpine flora consists in the re- 
markable uncertainty of proportion among its species, and the vacillation 
of forms, which renders it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to de- 
termine the species correctly. It follows, in consequence, that certain 
forms are looked upon as reducible to a few species only, while other 
authors divide them into many. I need mention only Draba, Arabis, 
— Hieracium, Gentiana,and Salix. This unsteadiness as regards form is the 
_ more remarkable, since Alpine plants propagate themselves more bymeans | 
~ of buds than seeds ; and it is known that the former preserve the specific 
. features of plants more rigidly than the latter. If I am correct in my 
_ supposition, that plants have originated, not from one, but from many 
parent individuals, it appears probable, that species may have origi- 
nated, from types of nearly-allied forms becoming gradually fixed by pro- 
pagation from buds or seeds, and by their expelling other forms. But if 
this view is adopted, it is clear that the older flora must possess more 
numerous and fixed forms than the recent, By the influence of man 
new forms (varieties) arise, which seem to indicate a sort of return to 
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