GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 913 
open or more compact form of the panicle, the color 
and degree of prominence of the seeds beyond the glumes, 
the shape of the seeds, whether round, or more or less 
elliptical or oval, pubescence, difference of stature, and in 
the proportions of saccharine and other matters in the juice. 
None of these characters are of such a kind or importance 
as to entitle them to be regarded as a basis of specific dis- 
tinction. We conclude, therefore, that like the different 
varieties of Indian-corn, of the potato, the cabbage, and 
the tomato, these races are all referable to a common stock. 
This inference is not at variance with the fact that dif- 
ferent varieties are now found apparently indigenous to 
geographical regions very widely separated. On the sup- 
position that they had a common origin, there is nothing 
improbable in believing that through Egypt the original 
plant may readily have found its way to the extremity of 
either of the connected continents, where they now grow. 
But community of origin is not essential to specific identity, 
and the question whether these plants originated in a single 
locality or not, is unimportant in this connection. The 
wide geographical distribution of the several varieties is 
more easily accounted for upon the supposition that they, 
as well as other plants, were created in the regions where 
they were found. 
The reason why one strongly-marked variety is found 
only in a remote district of Hastern Asia (Chinese cane), 
and another on the southeastern coast of Africa (Imphee), 
and another in Nubia and Egypt (Doura), is certainly no 
more difficult of explanation than why the red currant 
should be truly indigenous to both this country and Europe, 
or why the wild hop-vine of our glades, or the “‘Jerusalem 
artichoke” from the great western plains should here en- 
counter their own living fac-similes migrating with man 
from an eastern clime. 
