THE SOUTH TEMPERATE ZONE 3" 



identical with or related to forms found in New Zealand, Tasmania 

 and parts of Australia. Anion*!; these are the species of < runnera, 

 Astelia, Nertera, and Nothofagus. A single conifer, Libocedrus 

 tetragona, is found in the Fuegian region, other species occur 



further north in the Chilean Andes, and another is L. decum 

 the incense cedar of California. 



Hardy compares the climate and vegetation of Fuegia with 

 that of the north of Great Britain. 



Chile 



Chile occupies the Pacific coastal strip of South America, be1 ween 

 latitude 18° and 55°, corresponding in North America to the coasi 

 from Central Mexico to southern Alaska, and there is a striking 

 similarity in the climates of the two regions in corresponding 

 latitudes, due to similar conditions. As in North America, the 

 narrow coastal belt is bounded on the east by the great Cordillera, 

 and the climate is a pronounced maritime one being dominated 

 by the winds from the Pacific. 



Of course, as Chile lies in the southern hemisphere, the ons 

 are reversed when compared with North America, and the northern 

 regions are the hot ones. Like the west coast of the United State-. 

 winter is the rainy season, and is associated with northerly winds 

 corresponding to the rain-bringing south winds in California; 

 while the summer fair-weather southwest winds correspond to 

 the prevailing northwest summer winds along the Californian 

 coast. 



All of northern Chile is extremely dry — practically rainless, in 

 fact, and almost destitute of vegetation. This is the region of the 

 famous nitrate deposits, the source of great wealth to the country. 

 This long stretch of arid country extending into the tropics, forms 

 an effectual barrier to the southward migration of tropical plants, 

 which are almost entirely wanting in the temperate parts of ( Jhile. 



The scanty rainfall of all of northern and much of the coastal 

 region of central Chile prevents the growth of any plants except 

 those adapted to long periods of drought. It is not remarkable, 

 therefore, that as in corresponding regions of North America, 

 Cacti play a very important role in the flora. Other dry region 

 plants like species of Euphorbia, Croton, Cassia, Ephedra, as well 



