116 VEGETABLE REGIONS. 



than in the temperate zone. Leguminous plants of this order, of 

 which are the pea, bean, etc., abound most in the tropics, diminishing 

 gradually therefrom. Others of this order, such as the goose-grass, 

 madder, etc. abound in the temperate region ; while those of the 

 medicinal barks, etc., are confined to the equinoctial region. The 

 umbeliferous and cruciferous plants, two extensive natural families, 

 are rare in the tropics, but abound in the S. of Europe. 



The habitation of plants presents a wide view of vegetable creation 

 and of the characteristics of plants as regards their natural country 

 or as found in their wild state. In New Holland, we find all the spe- 

 cies of the banksia, goodenia, epacris, etc., with acacia, without leaves, 

 but with organs so enlarged as to perform all the offices of leaves. 

 The fig, marigold, stapelia, with numerous kinds of protea, etc., are 

 found at the Cape of Good Hope. The family of plants to which be- 

 long the orange and lemon, as well as the camelia and Thea of China, 

 are of Asiatic origin. The remarkable mutisice, with the vai'ious 

 species of fuchsia, cacti, cinchona, cr the medicinal barks, etc., pecu- 

 liar to S. America. A few varieties of some of the above and suc- 

 ceeding plants may be found in some other countries, but the general 

 law in regard to locality is not thus overturned. The genera of 

 plants within the tropics on both continents, are generally the same, 

 but the species are as generally different. This is equally true in the 

 temperate climates. In parallels of latitude north and south, on both 

 continents, are likewise found plants with great affinities ; i. e., in 

 the south parallels of America and north parallels of Europe. 



Vegetable Regions. 



From what has been said, a division of botanical regions is easy 

 and natural. There are 20 or 22 of these regions. The hyperborean 

 region, the northern extremity of Asia, Europe, and America ; Siberian 

 region, the great plains of Siberia and Tartary ; Mediterranean region, 

 the basin of this sea, including Africa to the Sahara mountains, and 

 Europe to the first range of mountains. Oriental region, the country 

 bordering on the Elack and Caspian seas. India ; China ; Cochin 

 China, and Japan ; New Holland; Cape of Good Hope ; Jlbyssynia, 

 Nubia, etc. ; Equinoctial Africa, Congo, Senegal and Niger ; Canary 

 Islands ; United States ; Western and temperate coasts of N. America ; 

 West Indies ; Mexico ; Tropical S. America ; Chili ; S. Brazil and 

 Buenos Jlyres ; and Straights of Magellan. 



Each of these regions is characterized by the facts, 1st, that one half 

 of a species of plants is peculiar to that region ; 2d, that a fourth part 

 of the genus belongs exclusively to it ; and 3d, that individual families 

 of plants are peculiar to it, or have their maxima within it. These, 



