ON BOTANICAL GEOGRAPHY. 279 



found in countries very distant from each other. I have 

 heard of the American elm, the apricot of St. Domingo, 

 and many other plants bearing the same names, both in 

 Europe and in America. 



Mrs. B. This is owing, in a great degree, to the first 

 colonists who settled in America being ignorant of bota- 

 ny, and giving European names to plants, which, in fact, 

 were very different from those whose names they assumed. 



Emily. I suppose they considered it as a sort of trib- 

 ute paid to their native country ; just as they gave the 

 names of New York and New Holland, to countries very 

 different from those of Europe. 



Mrs. B. Another reason may also be alleged. It 

 often happens that different species of the same genus in- 

 habit different regions; for instance, the Vaccinium Mac- 

 rocarpum, which we call Canadian cranberry, is of a dif- 

 ferent species from the Vaccinium Oxy coccus, or English 

 cranberry, which we eat dresed exactly in the same way. 

 Thus, also, the oak, the pine, and the maple, of the Uni- 

 ted States, are of a different species from those which 

 bear the same name in Europe. 



Emily. It appears, then, that there is no sort of con- 

 nection between the classification of plants and their ge- 

 ographical distribution. 



J\frs. B. There is some slight connection, but it is so 

 variable that it is little to be depended on. Thus while 

 certain families and certain genera are dispersed all over 

 the world, others are confined to a single region ; all the 

 Cacti, for instance, come from America ; the Jlurantiaceaz 

 from India or the neighboring countries ; the Epacridece 

 from New Holland ; and, amongst the genera, there are 

 many, every species of which inhabit the same region. 

 Thus, all the Cinchonas are derived from South America ; 

 the Gorterias from the Cape of Good Hope, &-c. 



It often happens that different genera bear so near are- 

 semblance to each other, that the various species of the 

 same genera or families are divided, as it were, between 

 them. For instance, a portion of the Pelargoniums are 



1502. What does Caroline say she has heard in reference to this sub- 

 ject! 1503. To what is this owing! 1504. How does Eniily ac- 

 count for this! 1505. What is another reason and what examples are 

 given by Mrs. B.! 1506. Is there any connection between the classi- 

 fication of plants and their geographical distribution! 1507. What are 

 the three first examples in illustration given by Mrs. B. 1508. And 

 what is said of the Cinchonas and Gorterias! 



