A LADDER OF VEGETATION. COS 



mine always and everywhere the orographic distribution of plants. 

 Only the influence of elevation is counterbalanced here by that of 

 climate ; whence it results that the arborescent species endure at a 

 far greater height than on our European mountains. 



In the same manner that the Himalaya " resumes," so to speak, 

 the Flora of all the climates of the Old World, does the Cordillera of 

 the Andes, and, notably, that portion of the chain situated between 

 Peru and Venezuela, present all the vegetable types of the New 

 World, disposed upon its plateaux and its slopes as upon a gigantic 

 flight of steps. In the lower region, the plants of Tropical America, 

 favoured by a marshy soil, deck themselves out in their most gorgeous 

 attire. At an elevation of between 1800 and 3500 feet, the vegeta- 

 tion is neither so brilliant nor so varied, but it has not yet thrown 

 off its original character. We remark here a constant abundance of 

 Myrtacese, Laurenacise, and Bignoniacese, as well as numerous epiphy- 

 tous plants Orchidacese, Ferns, Bromeliacese. From 3500 to 9000 

 feet we mark the successive appearance of plants belonging to the 

 colder countries of North America : Escallionse, Magnoliaceas, Vac- 

 ciniacese, and Solanacese. Here and there a few Bromeliacese and 

 some other epiphytes display themselves. We encounter also in this 

 zone a small number of Palmacese ; among others, the Ceroxylon and 

 the Diplothenium. But soon the arborescent vegetation almost 

 wholly disappears, and only a few stunted bushes remain, similar to 

 those which, in the Alps, succeed the larch. Then come meadows 

 almost entirely formed of Composite, Umbelliferse, and Saxifrages ; 

 and, finally, the Lichens, the last plants the last forms of vegetable 

 life lingering on the frontiers of the region of eternal snow. 



If the law which presides over the orographic distribution of 

 plants were applicable to the animal kingdom, we should meet on the 

 frozen crests of the mountains with the same species as, or, at least, 

 with analogous species to, those we have seen in the vicinity of the 

 Pole. But it is not so. Plants flourish wherever they can find, with 

 an endurable climate, a soil in which their roots can develop them- 

 selves and imbibe the juices needful for their support ; but the condi- 



