64 Flora of central France. 



admit of the culture of wheat or vine. The surface of these 

 districts is generally uneven and mountainous. Water 

 abounds there limpid and pure, and runs with velocity in each 

 valley. Vegetables offer also here a peculiar aspect. The 

 beech-tree, the chestnut, horn-beam, and sometimes the birch 

 tree form the scenery of the forests ; and among the plants, 

 the most remarkable which grow commonly in those lands, 

 we may mention, Ranunculus aconitifolius, Cardamine amara, 

 et sylvatica, Viola paulustris, Lychnis diurna, Stellaria ne- 

 morum, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, Cotyledon umbilicus, 

 Sedum vellosum, Sorbus aucuparia, Comarum paulustre, Ge- 

 um rivale, Alchimulla vulgaris, Sambucus racemosa, Senecio 

 adonidifolius, Doronicum austriacum, Vaccinium myrtillus et 

 oxycoccos, Polygonium bistorta, Salix pentandra^ Potamo- 

 geton rufescens, Carex teretiuscula et Canescens, Equisetum 

 sylvaticum, polypodium phogopteris et dryopteris, Asplenium 

 septentrionale, Lycopodium clavatum. The secondary for- 

 mations compose a series of peculiar beds which extend from 

 the old red sandstone to the chalk formation inclusively. 

 The coal formation is favourable to the development of the 

 Leguminosse, and these plants constitute the base of her- 

 baceous vegetation : the Ononis repens var elatior, the Trifo- 

 lium medium, elegans, ochroleucum, &c. form in the month of 

 July, carpets of magnificent aspect. 



Under the name of Jura division, we understand the 

 lias, the oolitic, and cretaceous formation. Often the lias 

 presents itself under the form of very thick argillaceous beds, 

 separated here and there by certain thin beds of calcareous 

 loam. These lands are very fertile, the happy proportion 

 of alumina, lime, and silex which constitute good vegetable 

 mould, favour in a high degree the culture of grain, and more 

 especially of wheat. But in a botanical point of view these 

 formations are not so distinct. With the exception of cer- 

 tain peculiar species, the greater part of which are found 

 in districts composed of the oolitic limestone, there is a great 



