20 LIFE ON THE EARTH. 



origin for the species found in both these regions, 

 and to seek for causes no longer in operation for 

 their distribution over so extended an area 1 . It is 

 remarkable that these 222 species include no less 

 than 154 genera. Among them are the plants which 

 flower in fields and meadows, in woods and wastes, 

 in marshes and in water trees and herbs, climbers 

 and parasites, reproduce before us the familiar aspect 

 of European vegetation. The water-plants include 

 Ranunculus aquatilis, Nympheea alba, Myriophyllum 

 verticillatum, Hippuris vulgaris, Alisma plantago, 

 Sagittaria sagittifolia, Butomus umbellatus, Acorus 

 calamus, and several species of Potamogeton. East 

 of Kumaoon, the European admixture of plants gives 

 place to a Chinese and Malayan flora. West of 

 the Himalaya, mountain-plants of the European type 

 occur at several points, ideally connecting this range 

 with the coasts of the Levant and the Black Sea, 

 and really indicative of the anciently connected flora 

 and the continuous means of communication. 



Another inference from such facts is of equal 

 importance. The species of plants thus shewn to 

 be identical in the regions of the Himalaya and the 

 Islands of the West, have retained their characters 

 during all the time of the existence of each race ; 

 these characters have survived the chances of long 

 1 Flora Indica. Introductory Essay, 108. 



