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including northern Europe and northern Asia, to the great 

 chain of mountains which extends from the Pyrenees 

 to the Alps. Woods of Conifers, or Deciduous trees, 

 luxuriant meadows and broad heaths, in Asia the peculiar 

 salt steppes, especially determine the characters of this 

 region, which, at least in its European portion, is now too 

 widely taken possession of by cultivation to exhibit its 

 natural physiognomy. The wide basin from the Alps to 

 Atlas, the deepest part filled by the Mediterranean Sea, 

 forms a third region, distinguished by the abundance of 

 aromatic Labiate plants, fair, but fleeting Lily plants, and 

 the resinous Rock-roses. The solitary Dwarf-palm and 

 Balsam-trees denote in this, De Candolle's region, the transi- 

 tion to the tropics. Parallel to the two last-named regions, 

 North America is divided into a northern region named in 

 honour of Michaux, distinguished by peculiar Conifers, 

 Oaks and Walnuts, by innumerable Asters and Golden- 

 rods, from the Linnsean region, and a southern, Pursh's, 

 region, in which most strikingly appear the trees with 

 broad shining leaves and large splendid flowers, like the 

 Tulip-tree, the Magnolia, and others, defining the character. 

 Between Kampfer's region, comprehending China and 

 Japan, Wallich's in the highlands of India, and the 

 Polynesian, or island region of Reinwardt, renowned for its 

 Poison-tree and its Giant-flower, lies Roxburgh's region, 

 which extends through both the Indian peninsulas, which 

 conceals among the shadows of the monster Fig-trees, the 

 Seitaminacea, or Aromatic Lilies, like Ginger, Cardamums 

 and Turmeric, or in little woods of aromatic Barks, like the 

 Cinnamon and Cassia, matures in thick shapeless stems 

 the starch of the Sago. We pass over Blume's region in 

 the mountains of Java, Chamisso's in the Archipelago of 

 the South Sea, and Forster's region in New Zealand, and 



