678 GEOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL BOTANY. 



The plants, then, native to it must be capable of growing in the short 

 spring and, while at rest, be able to endure prolonged drought and intense 

 extremes of temperature. Bulbous plants, plants with stift'spiny branches 

 and email foliage, or plants densely covered with hairs, abound. Salt 

 plains are abundant yielding a peculiar vegetation, including many Che- 

 nopods, such as the Saxal Anabasis ammodendron. (Humboldt's ' Asie 

 Centrale ' should be consulted on this region.) 



3. Region of the Labiates and Caryophyllece (Mediterranean^ or 

 De Candolle's Region}. 



Mean temperature, 65-73 Fahr. (18-23 C.). 



This, the Mediterranean region of Grisebach, is characterized clima- 

 tically by very hot dry summers and mild winters. Plants grow in spring, 

 rest in the hot dry season, and g'row again in autumn. Schouw includes 

 the Atlantic islands in this botanical region. 



Character. Labiatse, Caryophyllese, Boragiueae, Cistinere, Liliaceae ; 

 the Orders cited in the preceding region, but mostly less prevalent, espe- 

 cially the Carices. Representatives of tropical Orders Palmae, Tere- 

 binthaceae, Lauracege, Orders which increase towards the equator be- 

 coming more numerous: Leguminosa3, Malvaceas, Solanaceae, Euphor- 

 biacese, Urticaceae. 



Genera. Adonis, Trigonella,Trifoliurn,Medicago, Genista, Cytisus, Sca- 

 biosa, Anthemis, Achillea, Verbascum, Narcissus ; many evergreen trees 

 and shrubs ; a greater number of woody plants than in the second region j 

 pasture less luxuriant ; a winter flora existing. 



Predominant trees and shrubs. Evergreen trees and shrubs form a 

 feature of the flora. Pinus Pinea, P. Pinaster, P. halepensis, P. Laricio, 

 Oupressus sempervirens, Juniperus phoenicea, J. macrocarpa, Quercus 

 Cerris, Q. pedunculata, Q. sessiliflora, Q. Ilex, Q. Suber, Q. ^Egilops, 

 Q. coccifera, Q. infectoria, Castanea vesca, Platanus orientalis, Alnus 

 cordifolia, Corylus Colurna, Ostrya vulgaris, Acer monspessulanum, A. 

 neapolitanum/ Pistacia Lentiscus, P. Terebinthus, Ceratonia siliqua, 

 Cercis siliquastrum, Genista scoparia, Mespilus pyracantha, Prunus lauro- 

 cerasus, Tamarix gallica, T. africana, Myrtus communis, Punica Grana- 

 tum, Opuntia vulgaris, Viburnum Tinus, Arbutus Unedo, Erica arborea, 

 E. scoparia, Rhododendron ponticum, R. maximum, Cisti, Phyllyrea lati- 

 folia, P. angustifolia, Ornus europsea, O. rotiuidifolia, Nerium Oleander, 

 Rosmarinus oflicinalis, Ephedra distachya, Chama3rops humilis, Ruscus 

 aculeatus, Smilax aspera, Tanius communis. (The highest parts of the 

 mountains here belong to the first region, the middle elevations to the 

 second region.) Many plants have been introduced and become quasi 

 naturalized ; such as the Date-Palm, Agave americana, Opuntia^ Euca- 

 lyptus globulus, &c. 



Cultivated plants. The same as in the preceding region j but the follow- 

 ing are more rare, or only seen on the mountains Rye, Currants, Goose- 

 berry, Buckwheat, and Hop ; while the following are added : 



Cereals. Rice, Millets (Sorghum vulgare, Panicum italicum). 



Fruits. Figs, Almond, Pistachia-nut, Lemon, Citron, Sweet and Seville 

 Oranges, Prickly Fig (Opuntia), Water-Melon, Olive, the latter being 

 characteristic. 



