66 OUTLINE OF PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



There is a marked development of the evergreen macchie, 

 with heaths in great variety, brooms and rock-roses, as in Spain 

 and Portugal. Much of the forest formation, however, is very 

 different, being composed mainly of species of true laurels (Laurus, 

 Persea, and Oreodaphne), a family very poorly represented in 



Europe. 



In the drier regions, especially in the Canaries, ! is a marked 

 development of succulent plants, like stone-crops, Aloes, Eu- 

 phorbias, and others, as well as many showy plants adapted to 

 xerophytic conditions. 



Two characteristic trees, the Canary Island date-palm, and 

 pine (Pinus Canaricnsis) are extensively planted in warm tem- 

 perate regions like the Riviera and California. Less frequently 

 is seen in cultivation, the extraordinary dragon-tree {Dracaena 

 draco), from Madeira and the Canaries. 



The Eastern Mediterranean 



To the east of the Mediterranean lie the lands of Palestine, Asia 

 Minor and Mesopotamia, which Drude includes in the Mediter- 

 ranean area. 



This region lying between 30° and 40° N. lat. may be compared 

 with southern California, Arizona and northern Mexico, lying in 

 approximately the same latitudes and having very similar climatic 

 conditions. The coastal region has the characteristic temperate 

 Mediterranean climate, but inland are regions where the range 

 of temperature is very great, intensely hot summers, and relatively 

 severe winters. The region at the head of the Persian Gulf is one 

 of the hottest known, and might be compared with Death Valley 

 in southern California. 



This region comprises elevated plateaus surrounded by lofty 

 mountains, and the lowlands of Mesopotamia. The rainfall is for 

 the most part scanty, and much of the region is occupied by 

 steppes, or actual deserts, with very scanty vegetation of salt- 

 bushes, sage-brush, various Polygonaceae and in regions where 

 there is a marked winter rainfall, in the early spring is a growth of 

 short-lived annuals, mostly inconspicuous species. 



1 For a complete description of the flora of the Canaries, See Knoche, H., Va- 

 gandi Mos — Rciscskizzen eincs Botanikcrs: I. Die Kanarischcn Inseln, Strasbourg, 

 1923. 



