PHYSIOGNOMY OF PLANTS. 21 



the equator and approaching the temperate zone, palms 

 diminish in height and beauty. The indigenous vegetation 

 of Europe only comprises a single representative of this 

 form of plants, the sea-coast Dwarf-palm or Chamserops, 

 which, in Spain and Italy, extends as far north as the 

 44th parallel of latitude. The true climate of palms 

 has a mean annual temperature of 20.5 22 Eeaumur 

 (78.2 81.5 Fahr). The Date, which is much inferior in 

 beauty to several other genera, has been brought from 

 Africa to the south of Europe, where it lives, but can 

 scarcely be said to nourish, in a mean temperature not 

 exceeding 12 13.5 Eeaumur (59 62.4 Fahr). Stems 

 of palms and fossil bones of elephants are found buried 

 beneath the surface of the earth in northern countries, 

 in positions which make it appear probable that their 

 presence is not to be accounted for by their having been 

 drifted thither from the tropics, and we are led to infer 

 that in the course of the great revolutions which our 

 planet has undergone, great changes of climate, and of the 

 physiognomy of nature as dependent on climate, have taken 

 place. 



In all parts of the globe the palm form is accom- 

 panied by that of Plantains or Bananas; the Scita- 

 mineae and Musacese of botanists, Heliconia, Amomum, 

 and Strelitzia. In this form, the stems, which are 

 low, succulent, and almost herbaceous, are surmounted 

 by long, silky, delicately-veined leaves of a thin loose 

 texture, and bright and beautiful verdure. Groves of 

 plantains and bananas form the ornament of moist places 



