39 



are seldom met with north of the Pyrenees ; and further, that the mountains 

 (and in the north of Scotland the comparatively low tracts near them) are 

 characterised by the presence of species which seem to have their metropolis in 

 the Scandinavian peninsula, and on the higher summits of southern Europe. 

 Thus there is but one British species not present on the Continent. 



Beyond this brief general notice, it is not my intention to speak of the external 

 relations of British plants. I wish rather to draw your attention to the peculiari- 

 ties of their natural relations within the limits of our islands ; to show the light 

 in which the Herefordshire Flora— at least what we know of it— appears, when 

 viewed in connection with the whole British Flora ; and to point out to those who 

 may be vrilling to help in its complete elucidation the various kinds of information 

 required, and the directions in which their energies may be most profitably 

 directed. 



The species composing the indigenous flora of Great Britain may be studied 

 — fii-st, as to their areas of distribution ; secondly, aa they occur in ascending or 

 climatic zones. With regard to the first mode of grouping them, Mr. Watson, 

 who has so long and laboriously studied the geographical relations of British 

 plants, distinguishes what he terms seven types of distribution, according as the 

 species evince a predilection for one or other part of the island. These are :— 



1. The British type, consisting of generally distributed species, evincing no 

 peculiar predilection for one part of Great Britain more than another. Some few, 

 as Viola palustris, extending from the sea-level on the south coast to near the 

 summits of the highest Scotch mountains ; others having a more restricted range. 

 This includes about two-fifths of the whole number of British plants. 



2. The English type, comprising plants which have their chief prevalence in 

 England, particularly in the more southern provinces, whence they gradually 

 become rare in a northward direction. About one-fifth of the whole British flora 

 ranges here. 



3. The Scottish type-the opposite of the English ; the plants referred to 

 here having a northward tendency, and becoming rare toward the south. This 

 includes perhaps one-twentieth of the whole number of species. 



4. The Highland type. It consists of plants limited to the higher mountains 

 and their immediate vicinity. About one-fifteenth of the entire number of British 

 species come here. 



5. The Germanic type, so called from the species being most abundant in 

 those provinces which are washed by the German Ocean, and shading off to the 

 western side of the Island. 



6. The Atlantic type ; plants of the West of England, some of which are 

 absolutely restricted to Cornwall ; the others occurring very rarely, if at all, 

 towards the east coast. 



7. A local or doubtful type ; species whose distribution is restricted to 

 single or few counties, occurring too rarely to be ranged with the British type. 



