THE NORTH TEMPERATE ZONE 51 



At higher elevations gentians were abundant, especially the 

 exquisite Gentiana verna, and the gentianella (G. acaulis), the 

 alpine rhododendrons, " alpine rose" were common, as well as 

 an attractive fragrant pink Daphne (D. cneorum). 



The British Islands 



The climate of the British Islands is much more equable than 

 that of continental Europe in the same latitudes. Owing to 

 the close proximity of the Gulf Stream to the west coasts of 

 Great Britain and Ireland, these regions, in spite of their high 

 latitude, have very mild winters, frost being rare in the south- 

 west of Ireland and much of western Scotland. Many plants 

 thrive in these regions, as well as in the south of England, which 

 cannot endure the severe winters of continental Europe. In 

 the southwest of Ireland are a number of native plants common 

 to Spain and the Mediterranean regions, the best known being 

 the strawberry tree (Arbutus Unedo), a near relative of the Cali- 

 fornian madrono (A. Menziesii). 



The western regions of Great Britain and Ireland, have a 

 very heavy rainfall, which combined with the absence of severe 

 cold, makes these regions particularly adapted to the growth 

 of many exotic broad-leaved evergreens, such as the laurels, 

 rhodendendrons, and many New Zealand and Chilean ever- 

 greens. Coniferous trees of many species do remarkedly well, 

 and one may see fine specimens of Araucarias from Chile, red- 

 woods and Douglas firs from the Pacific Coast, cedars of Lebanon, 

 and many others. 



The indigenous trees, however, are few in number, and com- 

 prise none not found also on the continent. 



The meadows and woodlands are very attractive in the spring 

 with the primroses and bluebells in the woods, and the cow- 

 slips and daisies in the meadows, the hedges white with haw- 

 thorn bloom. But all of these are common to most of temperate 

 Europe, and Britain has very few species peculiar to it. 



Much of Ireland and Scotland is occupied by bare moorlands 

 and bogs, in which the cool damp climate induces extensive 

 peat-formation, rendering much of the country unsuitable for 

 agriculture. 



