50 BOTANY. 



higher, accompanied by a few Saxifrages, Gentians, and Grasses, while 

 lichens and Mosses struggle up to the imperishable ))arricr of perpetual 

 snow." 



Some authors establish five regions of mountain vegetation, including 1, the 

 region of Lowland cultivation; 2, llegion of Avoods; 8, Region of shrubs; 

 4, Region of grasses ; and 5, Region of Cryptogamous plants. A more elabo- 

 rate classification by Meyen is as follows : 



1. Region nf Palms and Bananas. 



to 1900 feet high. Temperature 80|° to 8G° F. Corresponds to the 

 equatorial zone. 



Forests of Mangrove at the sea coasts, and at the mouths of rivers. Ar- 

 borescent grasses covering extensive tracts, dense forests of fig trees, Tourne- 

 fortia, Dodonea, Barringtonia, Mimosa, <fcc., overtopped by palms, Musaceae, 

 and Scitamineae. 



2. Region of Tree Perns and Ficus. 



1900 to 3800 feet high. Temperature 74° F. Corresponds to the tropic 

 zone. 



Arborescent ferns from 20 to 30 feet liigh, Cinchonacece, Artocarpus, and 

 Ficus, with Reed Palms, and Passiflorae. The undergrowth of Acanthaceas 

 Tiliaceae, Euphorbiaceac, mixed with Aroideae and Piperaceae. 



3. Region of the Myrtles and Laurels. 



3800 to 5700 feet high. 68° to 69.8° F. Corresponds to the subtropical 

 zone. 



Dicotyledonous trees, with glossy leaves, shrubby ferns, Quercus, Liquid- 

 ambar, Laurineae, Proteaceae, Rubiaceae, Erica, Styrax, Sapindaceae, Mal- 

 pighiaceae, Melastoma, Myrtus, Eugenia, Eucalyptus, Acacia. 



4. Region of Evergreen Dicotyledonous Trees. 



5700 to 7600 feet high. Temperature, 62.6° F. Corresponding to the 

 ' warmer temperate zone. 



Quercus, Laurineae, Melastomaceae, Myrtaceae, Colletia, Cactaceas. 



5. Region of Deciduous Dicotyledonous Trees. 



7600 to 9500 feet high. Temperature, 57.2° F. Corresponding to the 

 colder temperate zone. 



50 



