44 Proceedings. 



from South Africa ; also of the Silver Tree, Leucodendron 



argenteum, belonging to the natural order Proteacece ; the 

 Silver Tree is only known to grow on the somewhat limited 

 area of Table Mountain, near Cape Town ; all exhibited by 

 Mr. N. E. Brown. 



Mr. N. E. Brown, of Kew, described ' The Arctic Flora' : — 



He defined the Arctic Flora as the flora of the region north 

 of the Arctic Circle, but also including the southern extremity 

 of Greenland, which extends to the south of the Arctic Circle. 

 As compared with other floras, it is a very young flora, but 

 many of the forms are antiquated. Generally speaking, it is 

 a poor, stunted flora. The Ax'ctic flora is not confined to the 

 Arctic Regions ; it is world-wide, and the only world-wide 

 flora. It extends southward on level ground, and also appears 

 on mountain ranges in all latitudes. 



The summer temperature of the Arctic Regions ranges from 

 32° to 45° Fahr. The winter temperatiire, except in West 

 Lapland is below zero. The mean annual temperature is 30°, 

 that of Lapland 87°. The June temperature of Lapland is 

 40° to 45°, September 37° to 42°, being greatly influenced by 

 the Gulf Stream. In May or early June a warm south wind 

 usually blows in the Arctic Regions, the snow melts fast, and 

 flowers rush into bloom. The contrast is great between the 

 conditions of climate in the Arctic Regions and in the Arctic- 

 alpine zoue of the tropics, and there is a corresponding difi"er- 

 euce in the flora, although some species are common to both. 



One characteristic of the Arctic flora is the absence of trees 

 and shrubs. North of 72° no trees or shrubs are met with. 

 "Where the country is low, the vegetation is of a moorland or 

 bog character. The interior of Geeenland is hilly and ice- 

 bound ; hence vegetation is confined to a narrow strip of coast. 

 In Spitzbergen vegetation is found on narrow terraces, slopes, 

 and ledges near the coast ; but at 78° N. hit. a vigorous vege- 

 tation is met with of about 90 flowering plants, 70-80 mosses, 

 150 lichens, and 10-15 fungi; and numerous herds of Rein- 

 deer pasture there. At Magdalena Bay, 79^° N. lat., an 

 abundant and vigorous vegetation has been found at an 

 elevation of more than 2000 ft. above sea-level. At Brandy- 



