492 PLANTS AND MAN 



spring. Most of the species are native to Europe and southwestern 

 Asia. 



These flowering members of the Dicot and Monocot groups 

 of the Angiosperms indicate what a wide geographical range 

 plant explorers have covered to bring us these chosen species. 

 Many of them have been under cultivation in other parts of the 

 world for thousands of years; but all originally were wild plants. 

 Centuries of patient breeding, experimentation and careful culti- 

 vation have developed the latent possibilities of their natures, 

 resulting in the variety of ornamental plants which many of 

 us casually accept as natural members of our gardens and decora- 

 tions in our homes. 



