36 



THE WORLD OF LIFE 



CHAP. 



which is to some extent deceptive, and this is increased by 

 the fact that whole groups of plants which are more or less 

 rare in the lowlands are plentiful at higher altitudes. Two 

 other circumstances add to this impression of abundance 

 alpine flowers are mostly very dwarf, and being all at the 

 same level, attract the eye more than when distributed over 

 various heights from that of the creeping herb to the summit 

 of lofty trees ; and, in addition to this, the shortness of the 

 season of growth leads to a much larger proportion of the 

 species flowering together than on the lowlands at the same 

 latitude. 



Extra-European Temperate Floras 



The number of floras which are available for comparison 

 with those of Europe are few in number and very widely 

 scattered ; but they serve to illustrate the fact already dwelt 

 upon, that the differences of species-population in fairly com- 

 parable areas approach to a general uniformity all over 

 the world. 



EXTRA-EUROPEAN TEMPERATE FLORAS SMALL AREAS 



