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alpine plains — the true yailahs, the inhabited parts of the table-land of 

 Asia Minor, elevated from three, to five thousand five hundred, feet 

 above the sea, and in some places presenting an uniform vegetation to 

 a greater height. A fourth botanical region of elevation is presented 

 by the mountain peaks and ranges, elevated from six to ten thousand 

 feet above the level of the sea, which rise out of the table-lands and 

 wall them in. We shall now attempt to sketch the principal botani- 

 cal features of these several regions. 



" I. Region of the maritime plains and valleys. The vegetation 

 of this region is that characteristic of all the mediterranean shores. 

 The majority of plants which flower on the Lycian shores and mari- 

 time plains, may be met with from Spain to Asia. Oaks, oriental 

 planes, and peculiar pines constitute its forests ; Leguminos(B, La- 

 biatcB, Crucifera, Caryophyllacece, LiliacedB, and IridecB, make up its 

 herbaceous vegetation. In Lycia, the low hills of this region are 

 covered with myrtle. Arbutus, Daphne, Phlomis, Styrax, Cisiiis and 

 Lentisk ; the Elceagnus, the Oleander, the Chaste- tree, and Colutea, 

 are the shrubs which are most conspicious on the borders of the 

 plains ; the fences are constructed of Christ-thorn fPaliurus echi- 

 natusj ; in the neighbourhood of the sandy shores grow Passerina and 

 Ruscus : the waste ground is studded with bushes of Juniper (Juni- 

 perus Phd^nicea), spiny burnet f Poterinm spinosumj, spiny cichory 

 (Cichorium spinosumj, and Lithospermum hispidulum ; on the rocks 

 by the sea-side, great bushes of tree spurge (Euphorbia dendroidesj 

 are mingled with more humble but more gaily flowering shrubby 

 knots of variously coloured knapweeds ( CentaureaJ, and everlastings 

 ( Helichrysum ) . These extend up the hill-sides, and mingle with 

 shrubby Labiat<B. In waste places the Ricinus grows, and the gor- 

 geous dragon Arum. Along the marshes the great reed (Arundo Do- 

 nax), flourishes in miniature forests, and is often used to fence the 

 fields on the alluvial plains. The damper parts are covered in au- 

 tumn by the tall golden-flowered Astericus aquaticus. 



"The wild olive covers the hills, wherever the Pine (Pinus mariti- 

 mus and halepensis) and the Arbutus leave room. The balanea oaks 

 (Qnercus ballota, aeyilops, and infecloria), afford ample shade. The 

 mastic, the fig, and the mulberry are not unfrequent, both cultivated 

 and wild. The oriental planes afford abundant shade near every vil- 

 lage, and the dark and towering cypress is planted by the place of 

 burial, but grows wild in the ravines. The pomegranate flourishes in 

 great abundance, and its wild fruit supplies a grateful refreshment un- 

 der the warm sun of autumn. The almond and manna-ash grow wild 

 Vol 11. 4 z 



