GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 57 



Spain. It was transported into the Canary Islands in 1 503, and soon 

 afterwards found its way to the West Indies and Brazil. Of plants culti- 

 vated for fruits (we omit tropical fruits) the several varieties of the Orange 

 and Lemon are traced to the warmer parts of Asia ; the Vine, to the Cauca- 

 sian region, where it is still found wild ; the Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, 

 and the many varieties of Plums are from temperate Europe and Asia ; 

 the Apricot from Armenia and the Caucasian region generally ; and so also 

 the Almond. Peaches first made their appearance in Europe a little before 

 the commencement of the Christian era, and their name, Persica, or 

 Malum persicum, indicates their Eastern origin. They have, however, 

 no Sanscrit name, and M. de Candolle supposes that they were originally 

 brought from China. At present the Peach tree exists, apparently wild, 

 in many parts of Asia: Koch affirms that it is abundant in the Cau- 

 casian provinces, but Ledebour doubts if it be spontaneous there. 

 Pears and Apples are of European or Caucasian origin ; the Quince is 

 wild in the South of Europe ; the Pomegranate, to which Northern Africa 

 is often assigned, is traced to Western Asia. The various Gourds, Melons, 

 the Water Melon, and the Cucumber, all of which are now only known in 

 cultivation, are traced to the East, whence they were introduced, at various 

 periods, into Europe. Currants and Gooseberries are from temperate 

 Europe. The Fig and the Olive, from early times naturalized throughout 

 the Mediterranean region, are supposed to have been primarily derived from 

 Asia Minor, or from that Caucasian district, the cradle of the human race, 

 so abundantly supplied with the best gifts of the earth. The origin of the 

 various species of grain, and of seeds used for other besides edible pur- 

 poses, is discussed at length. The history of many of the best known is 

 lost in antiquity. If they ever existed in a state of nature, they have long 

 6ince ceased to exist. The probability is that many of the so-called species 

 of cultivation are races which have originated under man's care and skill, 

 and which depend on his exertions for their continuance. If the experiments 

 of a modern observer are to be depended on, wheat itself is a cultivated 

 monstrosity of a miserable grass (JEgilops) of the South of Europe, which 

 is so different in its botanical structure from cultivated wheat that it has 

 been always supposed to be generically distinct. If such transformations 

 are possible, others, equally startling, may have occurred. 



The subject of disjoined species, or those that are found scattered at 

 wide intervals, without any apparent physical connection between the seve- 

 ral localities where they occur, is next discussed at large. The origin of 

 existing spontaneous species is then speculated upon ; the geographic dis- 



