vi. I DAPHNE. 135 



P. maritima nearly linear. More or less similar cases 

 occur in Ranunculus. 



These differences depend, I believe, on the attitude 

 of the leaf, for it will be found that the broad-leaved 

 ones are horizontal, forming a rosette more or less 

 like that of a daisy, while the species with narrower 

 leaves carry them more or less erect. In the Daisy 

 the rosette lies on the ground, but in other cases, as 

 in Daphne (Fig. 87), it is at the end of a branch. 



FIG. Zj.Dafhne 



In hot, dry countries the general character of the 

 vegetation differs from that which prevails in a climate 

 like ours. There is a marked increase of prickly, 

 leathery, waxy, and aromatic species. The sap also 

 in many cases is mucilaginous or somewhat salt, 

 which probably tends to check evaporation. The 

 first two characteristics evidently tend to protect the 

 leaves. As regards the third, Mr. Taylor 1 in his 

 charming book on Flowers, has pointed to the power 



1 Page 311. 



