44 Some Acdount of the White Mountains 



Infiower* 



Salix repeiis. Willd. . . July 2. 



Scirpus obtusus — culmo tereti,nudo, monosfachyo; 

 spica lanceolata, squamis apice carnosis, oblusis. July. 



Scirpus bracteatus — Culmo tereti, monostachyo ; 

 spica ovala, aaita, hracteis involucrnta; Jlos- 

 ciilis monandris. . . . . . . . . August. 



Spiraea alba. Ekr. August 25. 



Solidago multiradiata. Jit August 24. 



Sorbiis Americana. Willd. nana. 



Vacciiiium tenellum. Ait. . . . . ... July 2. 



Vaccinium gaultherioides — prostratum,foliis ol- 

 ovatis, integris ; Jlorthus suhsolitariis ; haccis 

 ohloiigis, stylo coroiiatis. . . . . . . July 2. 



Veratrum viride ? Wild. s.Jl. 



Lichen velleus, rangiferinus, pyxidatus, cocciferus, 

 Isiandicusj cornutus, et alii plures. 



Indeterminatae Salix 1. Poa 1. Menziesia ? 1.* 



The vegetation in spots extended quite to the top of the 

 mountain. Dinpensia Lappoiiica and Lycopodium lucidulum, 

 the former in full flower, were growing within six feet of the 

 summit. All the rocks were incrusted with lichens, among 

 which L. velleus is the one which predominates, and contributes 

 essentially to the dark gray appearance of the mountain. 



In the foregoing list of vegetables, it will be seen that a con- 

 siderable number of species are natives of Europe as well as of 

 this country. A question of some interest has arisen — whether 

 any plants are originally common to both continents f, and 

 whether those species which approach each other so nearly in 

 their external characters, as to be known at present by the same 

 names, are in reality the same species. The analogy of the animal 

 kingdom seems to favour the negative of this question. Baron 

 Humboldt has asserted, upon the highest authorities, that no 

 quadruped or terrestrial bird, and even no reptile or insect, has 

 been found common to the equinoctial regions of the old and 

 new world. In like manner he affirms that the phanerogamous 

 plants, wiiich have been recognised as natives of the tropical 

 regions of both continents, are extremely few. In the temperate 

 zones, the number of American plants which wear European 

 names is contimi-.dly diminishing in books. The separation of 



* Spocinicns of the plants were sent to the Kii^lit Hon. Sir Joseph Banks; 

 ami Mr. Baott (we uiKkistaiuij lias pointed mit the following corrections, 

 the result of a hasty examination of the plants wliich he made with Mr. 

 Brown. Li/cojHhlii'nn lucidiilnm is H. Sd(i<.',o (Smith's Flora Britannica). — 

 Ho/ciis monlico/a is II. alinuus (Wald. b'ii)rii Lnpponica.) — Scirpus hrue- 

 tealuS'if, Juncus trijldua (Alton's Flora . — EDrr. 



f Iluiuboldt. — Memoir on the Distribution of Vegetable Forms. 



them 



