,'i2 ri.ANT LIFK OF ALABAMA. 



{IJi'lotl, inlroii fiillj)if,r<i), ciicuiiilxM- ti't'c ( M(i(/n(>l ill iicutn'nuilii), por- 

 siiniuon {Diosjtijros ri r<iliil<iii<i), sussiitras (Sd.ssufnis siissafrus), l»uck- 

 (\vt' ( Ar.sri//i/.'< sp|).). swcot *»"uin {IJ</iil(/<iiiihiir .^ti/nidl^ ii<t), thi' fhcstiiut 

 oak ((Jii< reus iiciiiiiniiiiii)^ and Spanish oak ((Jii,i;-iix dlgitata) make 

 tlioir api)('ai'aiic('. C'hcstiuit {('(isiiund <l<iif(it<i) and hlack jjfuin (.\//.v.va 

 si/l riitl<'<i) arc coniinon. and of conc-hcarin};" trees the yellow pine 

 {Pltnix r<-liiii(ii(i) and scriih pine (/'. rlrijiiiliiiin) ai"e met with. In this 

 di\ision the (•ulti^■ation ol" Indian corn exceeds that of small <ii'ain. 

 Soru'huui and the suj^ar beet are successfully o-rown. The culti\ati()n 

 of the grape and peach adds to th(> variety of the fruits, as also in the 

 correspondiiio" division of the precedin*'' zone. 



The Upp< I' S<))i()>'<()i Area. — This, the arid western division of the 

 Upper Austral life zone, extends from the vaguely defined limits of 

 th(> last division over the great western plains; beyond the Rocky 

 Mountains it covers much of th(^ great l>asin and parts of California. 



LOWER AISTKAI, ZONE. 



The Lower Austral zone, like the Upper Austral, is divided into a 

 humid eastern and an arid western area. 



Austroriparliui Area or Loiiislanian Flora. — This consists of the 

 eastern or humid division of the Lower Austral zone, and embraces 

 in its southern reach the subtropical belt of North America. Begin- 

 ning with a narrow strip of the Atlantic coast near the southern 

 shores of Chesapeake Bay, this area covers the coastal plain of the 

 Southern Atlantic States nearly to the southern extremitv of Florida 

 and the Gulf States to the center of Texas and the southern section 

 of Indian Territory, finding its western limit between longitude 90° 

 and 95°. It follows the lowlands of the Mississippi River toward its 

 junction with the Ohio. This Louisianian flora has been designated 

 as the realm of the magnolia, southern pine, and dwarf palmetto. 

 The greatest part of the arable land is devoted to the cultivation of 

 cotton. Rice and sugar cane, particularly in the lower part of this 

 division, contribute to home demands and furnish staple products for 

 export. The sul)tropical cowpea takes the place of clover for forage 

 and as an ameliorating crop. The sweet potato is the chief root crop, 

 and corn is the only grain crop cultivated for breadstuff. Peaches 

 and grapes are successfully grown, and in the lower belt the loquat 

 or Japanese medlar, while in proximity to the Gulf the orange ripens 

 its fruit. 



Lower Sonoran Area. — This flora, consisting of the western and 

 arid extension of the Lower Austral zone, extends from the plains of 

 western Texas to the Pacific Ocean. It is generally recognized as the 

 cactus region, or the Mexico-Californiau region. 



