72 



NATUR.LL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



of tlie RaiutiicuUicca after each genus we have studied. Turning 

 now to "-encral considerations, we shall first state these two great 

 iacts : there is hardly any country in the world in which at least a 

 few of these plants are not to be found ; they are the less abundant 

 in any country in proportion to other orders as the temperature of 

 that country is higher. Hence the nearer a country is to the tropical 

 zone, the worse are the Baminculacem usually represented there ; 

 unless indeed where the elevation of the ground above the sea-level 

 makes up to a certain extent for the geographical position of the 

 country. Thus the warmer parts of South America and India are 

 almost wanting in plants of this order, the number of which increases 

 as soon as we ascend the mountains in the north of India, or the 

 chain of the Andes in the west of America. In Senegal there are 

 only a few species of Clematis, and we must go to the Cape to find 

 some Anemones and the known species of Knoidtonia. In all very 

 hot countries the sum of the species of Ranuncidacece does not form 

 one-hundredth part of the flora ; while as we approach temperate 

 countries the proportion gradually increases. In South Carolina 

 (Elliott), as on Chimborazo (Jameson), the Bamcnculacece represent 

 two and a half per cent, of the whole number of species known. The 

 proportion is the same too in Japan (Zuccarini)/ There are from 

 three to five per cent, in most temperate countries of the Northern 

 hemisphere ;' and the proportion increases to six per cent, in Pata- 

 gonia towards the Antarctic Pole (J. Hooker), and to from five to 

 seven and a half per cent, in the Arctic Eegions.^ The countries 

 richest in Rantoiculacea extend round Lake Baikal, from Kam- 

 schtitka to Daouria, since it is admitted that the family here forms 

 from one-nineteenth to one-fifteenth of the whole flora ; and in the 

 Tschuki country it represents as much as one-sixteenth/ It must 



' In China, according to de Btjnqe, the pro- Petersburg, 3-5 (Fiscuer-Oostee) ; Silesia, 4 



icjrtion is an l.igli ns 3-5 per cent. (Wimmek) ; Ducby of Posen, 4 (Ritschl) ; 



" See the numbers given by A. de Can- Lithuania, 3 (Gorski) ; Glarus, 5-5 (Heer) ; 



Doi.i,E {op. <•;/. 1191. 12G0), with the names of Morbihan, 2 (Delalande) ; Sierra-Nevada, 4-5 



the autliurs from wliich he has taken them; (Boissier); Balearic Is., 2-5 (CAMBESStoEs) ; 



Kiwia in Kuropc, 5-5 (Rupbeciit); Faro Is., Greece, 2-5 (Cuaubakd). According to A. de 



4 (TuEVtLVAx); X. W. America, 6 (Hooker Candolle (o/j. «7., 1258), the proportion is the 



& Arnott); United States, 2-5 (Uiddell, same— 3-2 per cent, for the tcm[)eratc regions of 



Beck); S. Carolina, 2-5 (Fli.iott); Chimbo- the Old World, and the centre of Nortll Ame- 



rnzo, 2-5 (Jamkson); Labrador, 4 (E. AIeyer, rica. 



Hooker) ; I. of Sitcha, 3-5 (Bonoahd); Daou- ^ ^^ Hermit I., near C. Horn, 6 (J. Hooker); 



rin, (S (Ledeboi-r); Altai, 5 (Lkdebouk); and at Spitzbergen, 5 to 6 per cent. 

 Kamschatka, 7 (Hooker & Arnott) ; St. * hy.coi^, o^. cil.,mb. 



