BOTANICAL EEGIONS. 677 



to be the oldest existing flora. The most northern position in which 

 flowering plants have yet been found is in Smith's Sound, in lat. 82 N., 

 where Dr. Bessels found Draba alpina, Cerastium alpinum, Taraxacum 

 dens leonis, and Poaflexuosa. (The principal authority on the subject of 

 the Arctic Flora in its geographical aspect is Hooker, whose paper " On 

 the Distribution of Arctic Plants " is included in the Linnaean Transac- 

 tions, vol. xxiii.) 



2. Region of Umbelliferce (North-European and North- Asiatic, or 

 Linnceus's Region). 



Mean temperature, 29-46 Fahr. (-2 to -8 C.). 



This corresponds to Grisebach's Europseo-Siberian Forest region, and 

 is characterized by uniform temperature and absence of a dry season. 

 The Atlantic coast is milder than the inland continental regions. Grise- 

 bach establishes 7 zones of altitude : 1. The zone of the Sweet Chestnut, 

 Castanea vesca ; 2. The zone of Plnus picea (Germany) ; 3. The zone of 

 the Turkey Oak, Quercus Cerris (Hungary) ; 4. The central Russian 

 forest zone (Oaks) ; 5. The northern zone of Conifers (Larches, Pines, 

 Firs, with Birch) ; 6. The zone of Quercus mongolica ; and 7. The zone 

 of Betula Ermanni. 



General Character. Umbelliferae, Cruciferse, Coniferae, Amentaceae, 

 Graminaceae, Carices, Fungi, Cichoracese, Cynareae ; in Asia, more par- 

 ticularly, saline plants (such as Salsola and Salicornia) and Astragaleae. 

 Luxuriant pastures ; forest trees with deciduous leaves ; a few Heaths. 



Predominant trees and shrubs. Pinus sylvestris, P. cembra, P. sibirica, 

 Abies excelsa, A. pectinata, Larix europaea, Juniperus conamunis, Betula 

 alba, Alnus glutinosa, A. incana, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus pedunculata, 

 Q. sessilifl ora, Carpinus Betulus, Castanea vesca, Salices, Populus tremula, 

 Cory his Avellana, Ulmus campestris, Calluna vulgaris, Primus spinosa, 

 Pyrus Aucuparia, Acer Pseudo-platanus, A. platanoides, A. campestre, 

 Tiii a platyphylla, T. microphylla. 



Cultivated plants. Cereals : Rye, Barley, Oats, Wheat, Spelt, Maize, 

 Millet (Panicum miliaceum) , Buckwheat, Potato. Barley extends furthest 

 to the north, followed southward by Rye, Oats, and Wheat. 



Fruits. Apple, Pear, Quince, Cherries, Plums, Apricot, Peach, Mul- 

 berry, Walnut, Grape, Currant, Gooseberry, Strawberry, Melons. 



Esculent vegetables. Cabbage, Rape, Turnip, Radish, Mustard, Peas, 

 Beans, Lentils, Spinach, Beet, Cucumber, Gourd, Carrot. 



Fodder plants, fyc. Clovers, Vetches, Lucerne, Rye-grass ; Hops, 

 Flax, Hemp, Tobacco. (The publications of Ledebour, Regel, and nume- 

 rous other Russian botanists should be consulted as to this region.) 



2 a. The Steppe Region. 



This region, as laid down by Grisebach, extends from the Black Sea 

 to the frontiers of China, and from Southern Siberia to the Himalayas, 

 thus including almost the whole of Central Asia. The climatal conditions 

 are a severe winter, a short spring, a burning summer succeeded by winter. 



