276 GENERAL VIEWS, 



will appear in a still stronger light, if we compare the 

 species of the same genera or tribes which grow both 

 in Europe and under the line. In South America, 

 plants of the fern-tribe, with a foliage and frutification 

 not very unlike our common Brake and Polypedy, grow 

 like Palms, and have a stalk in the form of a column. 



The heaths of the northern parts of Europe are low 

 bushes, with feeble stems and small bloom : those of 

 the coasts of the Mediterranean have also a small 

 bloom, but their stems are taller and more robust ; 

 those of the Cape fascinate by the form, splendour of 

 colour, and size of the corolla. 



The Geraniums of Europe do not approach those of 

 Africa in point of stature or beauty of flower. 



Most plants of the Mallow-tribe with us are herba- 

 ceous ; those of hot climates, either shrubs or trees. 

 A tribe, of so little account in these parts, holds a place 

 among the vegetables of the most note in the equinoc- 

 tial regions. There it counts among its species the 

 Baobab and the Ceiba, the colosses of the vegetable cre- 

 ation : besides the "hand-tree" of Mexico, so called 

 from the form and disposition of the stamens of the 

 flower, which represent very tolerably a hand or paw 

 with five fingers. 



The Leguminosce, or pulse-tribe furnish Europe with 

 many herbaceous species, several shrubs, and one mid- 

 dle-sized tree ; all of which, however, have leaves 

 composed of but few leaflets. The same tribe in the 

 hot climates of Asia, Africa, and America teems with 

 lofty trees, graced with leaves of the most delicate tex- 

 ture, divided and subdivided into numberless leaflets, 

 and playing in the wind like plumes. 



The Aroidem in Europe never exceed the height of 

 a yard ; those of Mexico, the Brazils, and Peru some- 



