4 Geographical Distribution of the Cruciferce. 



that region, has its alpine residences in more southern latitudes. 

 The summits of the Rocky Mountains in lat. 52°, and what is 

 more remarkable and interesting, the White Mountains of ]New 

 Hampshire, claim the C. belUdifolia as a native. Sub Jo wfrigidoJ 

 we may exclaim, as we meet this errant stranger in its airy quar- 

 ters, and imagine while we pluck it that we inhale the atmosphere 

 of the arctic zone. A still more extraordinary place allotted for 

 this plant is California, as testified by Douglas, whose observa- 

 tions were always so clear and so well authenticated, that we are 

 scarcely at liberty to doubt them. The pinnately leaved Carda- 

 minece amount to seven, according to Torrey and Gray, three of 

 which are Arctic plants. The C. pratensis of Linnseus is on the 

 islands of the Arctic Ocean as well as in Behrings Straits, so that 

 we may conclude with a considerable degree of certainty that it 

 extends alono-st the whole northern coast of this continent. Beinsr 

 a native also of Hudson's Bay, Canada, and the western part of 

 the State of New York, it would appear that it accommodates 

 itself to a breadth of climate equivalent to at least 30 degrees of 

 latitude. The C. hirsuta, running less to the northward, (as 

 far as has yet been observed,) is nevertheless found, on the coasts 

 bordering on the Arctic Sea, and on the north-west coast in high 

 latitudes, having a distribution eastward and westward equal to 

 the breadth of the continent in lat. 45°. The C. Virginica of 

 U. States' botanists is a variation ofthe Cardamine we have just had 

 under consideration. The Cardamine digitata is confined en- 

 tirely to the north, and passes over Behring's Straits to form one 

 of the Siberian Flora. Other three species are the C. angulata, 

 and C. oligospermia, from the Oregon, and C. Ludoviciana, from 

 Georgia, Kentucky, and the Arkansas, but they are foreign to the 

 British possessions. Cardamine purpurea is a Siberian plant, 

 and although by the celebrated voyage and discoveries of Captain, 

 now Admiral Beechey, we know that it passes over to Kotzebue's 

 Sound, yet it must still only be considered as foreign, as it has not 

 yet been heard of beyond the Russian territories. 



The Dentaria, near Cardamine, but having the roots toothed 

 ortubercled, is a southern genus. D. laciniata, and D.diphylla, 

 enter Canada, but do not, as far as I have observed, advance 

 farther northward. The D. tenclla, and D. macro-car pa, belong 

 to the Oregon, and it is very probable may yet be discovered 

 passing the boundary line of 49°, and so enter into our list of 

 New Caledonia or Fraser River plants. Should Palliser's party cross 



