92 



ANAXYTICAL CLASS-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



ctains of Winter are broken, and the transient summer 

 appears. Lichens and Mosses are abundant ; and this is 

 styled the Region of Mosses and Saxifrages. In the 

 southern part of this zone, on the extreme limits of cul- 

 ture, in Lapland, Barley is grown. 



523. Region of LiNNiEus. — This imites with the 

 last at the line where Birches, in the form of low shrubs 

 or bushes, begin to appear, gradually becoming more like 

 arborescent forms, until Pines and their kindred tribes 

 are mingled with them, giving their name to the region, 

 which is often called the Zone of Conifers. It includes 

 all Northern Asia and Europe, except what was taken up 

 by the last. Firs, Pines, and Larches, form immense 

 tracts of forest land; deciduous trees (315), as we ad- 

 vance, are intermingled with these ; the Willow and Al- 

 der, with a variety of Sedges, skirt the brook-sides ; the 

 Cranberry flourishes in boggy soils, and the Cloudberry 

 and Currant in more genial situations. The Reindeer 

 Lichen and Iceland Moss, which is also a Lichen, over- 

 spread the dry hills ; and along with the tufted vegeta- 

 tion of the extreme North, appear the Cress and Fennel 

 tribes, with some of the Compositas, as the Dandelion and 

 Lettuce. In the lower regions of Lapland and Siberia, 

 Rye appears beside the Barley, but is confined to favor- 

 able seasons. In Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, 

 it is the staple bread corn, and Buckwheat is cultivated 

 to a considerable extent. Again, in the north of England 

 and Germany Wheat appears, and thence southward is the 

 chief grain cultivated over that large tract of the continent 

 stretching away to the Caspian Sea. In the neighbor- 

 hood of Drontheim, a city of Norway, 270 miles north- 

 west of Stockholm, fruits begin to be cultivated. Soon 

 after this the Oak appears, and vegetation gradually ex- 

 pands into a rich and varied Flora, marked by the luxuri- 

 ant Meadows and broad Heaths of England, the Moors of 

 Scotland, and the Salt Steppes of Russia. In Zealand, 

 the beautiful and fertile island on which the capital of 

 Denmark is situated, the first woods of Beech appear, 

 and Rye is accompanied by Wheat. In about the lati- 

 tude of Frankfort-on-the-Mainc, the noble Chestnut is 

 first met with ; and the Lime, Elm, and other deciduous 

 trees, beautify the scene. The Hop, Clematis, and Ivy, 

 foreshadow the climbers of the tropics ; the dense and 

 gloomy shadow of furzes is alternated by verdant mea- 



VThat other name of the region? "Where does Barley first appear? Name 

 of the next zone— whoso region ? Define its limits. By what chiefly di.-tin- 

 guishcd? What Licliens? What other plants? What grain appears beside 

 theliarley? In what countries is Eyo the staple bread corn? What other 

 bread corn also cultivated? Where does "Wheat first appear? Where do 

 Fruits begin to be cultivated ? Where docs tho Oak first appear — the first 

 Beech woods— the Chestnut— the Lime and Elm ? What climbers— and what 

 do they prefigure ? What great changes in vegetation ? What plant with pur- 



dows and richly cultivated fields; extensive vineyards 

 ripen their purple clusters in the mellowing sunbeams ; 

 Man has usurped the dominion of Nature ; and a general 

 cultivation, at least of the European side, is manifest. 

 But we have reached the southern limits of this zone, and 

 in crossing the great natural barrier of Caucasus and the 

 Alps, we arrive at the 



524. Zone of Evergreen Woods {the Region 

 of De CandoUe). — It is distinguished by the abundance 

 of evergreen trees, with coriaceous or shining leaves, as 

 the Orange and Myrtle, which are intermingled with the 

 graceful Palmetto of the tropics, and the Mint and Pink 

 tribes among herbaceous plants. The Narcissus and 

 Hyacinth bloom in spring ; the clambering Vine hangs 

 its purpling fruit among the glossy foliage of the woods ; 

 and the gorgeous Trumpet-flower, equally aspiring, relieves 

 the deep shadow with its flaming tubes. Here Wheat is 

 the principal bread corn, and is accompanied by Maize ; 

 the Olive and Grape attain their highest perfection, and 

 some of the tropical fruits begin to be cultivated in the 

 open air. This region embraces Southern Switzerland, 

 Southern France, Spain, with all the great Basin stretch- 

 ing away from the Alps to the Atlas, including the three 

 peninsulas of Southern Europe, Northern Africa as far 

 as the Deserts, a considerable portion of Asia Minor, the 

 Canaries, and the Azores. 



525. Japanese Region. — The temperate regions of 

 Asia, including China, Chinese Tartary, and Japan, pro- 

 bably form a peculiar region, but their Flora is little 

 known. What facts have come to light show a resem- 

 blance to the New World not less than to the Old. We 

 find also a growing likeness to the tropical and Indian 

 Floras, in the Banian, Palm, and Ginger tribes; and 

 from the prevalence of such plants, it has been termed 

 the Region of Honeysuckles and Buckthorns. 



526. The Oriental Tropical Zone. — This extends 

 over both of the Indian peninsulas, and over the Islands 

 between Asia and New Holland. Here we find the 

 great Fig tree extending itself into a forest; the aromatic 

 Lilies, such as Cardamom and Ginger ; the Spice-trees, 

 Cinnamon, Clove, and Nutmeg; the Sugar-cane, Indigo 

 plant, and Cotton. Rice is the staple bread corn, while 

 the lofty and noble Palm trees give their peculiar char- 

 acter to the landscape. 



pie fruit? Southern limit of this zone? Name of next zone — whose region? 

 By what distinguished ? What tribes among herbs? What climbers? Tho 

 principal bread corn — by what accompanied? Define the limits of the zone? 

 What of its tropica! fruits? Name of the next region? "\\'liat countries in- 

 cluded? What do its plants resemble ? What resemblance to tropical Flora? 

 What is tho region called? Why? Name of tho nest zone? Define its 

 limits. Enumerate its characteristic plants. Staple broad corn ? Characteris- 

 tic trees ; 



