30 PICTURE OF ORGANIZED NATURE. 



hryo'ides. Thence they extend, as herbaceous plants, 

 towards the Temperate Zone, without being- pecu- 

 liar to the Warmer one. Some shrubs and trees, 

 however, in warmer countries, especially the Hy- 

 drangea and Weinmannia, point out some affinity to 

 the Saxifrages. 



2. The Order of CaryophyllecB is, in general, pe- 

 culiar to the Cold and Temperate Zones. The ex- 

 terior structure of these plants resembles that of the 

 grasses. The stalk bears knots, like that of grasses ; 

 out of which leaves, opposite in pairs, put forth, 

 which are confluent round the stalk. Silene acavlis. 

 Cerastium alpiiium, Lychnis alpina, Arenaria ciliata, 

 Alsine rubella and biflora, grow partly in the snow- 

 line, and partly in its vicinity : they spread over 

 greater part of the Temperate Zone, and are chiefly 

 herbaceous plants. 



3. The Order of Gentian (Gentianecz) belongs 

 likewise to the Cold and Temperate Zones, and 

 commences at the snow-line, with the G. glacialis, 

 G. nivalis, G. tenella. It gradually increases in re- 

 gard to number and size, passing from the cold to 

 warmer climates. 



4. The Order of Rammcidaceae consists, in a great 

 degree, of herbaceous plants, inhabiting principally 

 the countries of the Cold and Temperate Zone ; be- 



