GEOGKAPHICAi DISTEIBtJ'nON OF PLANTS. 



93 



527. Region of the Myrtle and Acacia. — This 

 embraces New Holland. Forests of a dark and lurid 

 green, their sti^, shining, and spear-like leaves cutting 

 the light with their sharp edges, or reflecting it from their 

 glistening sides, give a spectral character to the woods. 

 This is a land of anomalous forms and uses. Here the 

 Cherry grows with a stone on the outside ; the Pear is 

 wooden, with the stem at the small end ; the Mjrrtle is 

 burnt for fuel, and the Mahogany is used for making 

 fences. In the Eucalyptus and Acacia tribes, the edges 

 of the leaf are presented to the light, and these, with the 

 Myrtles — ^which by a twist in the petiole throw theirs 

 into the same position — compose almost the entire forests. 

 Many plants of this region are much sought by florists, 

 but none more than the Proteacese, that exhibit the 

 most varied forms of grace and beauty, of which more 

 than four hundred species are known. Among sea-plants 

 is the exquisite frond of the Claudea, which appears like 

 a cluster of the softest plumage ; among Mosses, the 

 Dawsonia, which is crowned by a tuft of soft and silvery 

 hairs ; and among Lichens, the Netispora, whose perfo- 

 rated thallus resembles the most delicate lace. The New 

 Holland Lily, even in greenhouses, grows to the height 

 of twenty-five feet, crowned with a spreading cluster of 

 richest crimson flowers ; and last, though not least in impor- 

 tance, is the New Zealand flax, which, in the fineness and 

 strength of its bass fibre, is one of the most valuable 

 plants in the world. In the parts occupied by the Bri- 

 tish settlers, the products grown at home are cultivated 

 to equal advantage ; but Wheat, Maize, and Potatoes 

 are the principal crops. 



528. Eegion of Fig Mabigolds — Southern Africa. 

 — The Iris and Wood Sorrel tribes are represented by 

 numerous plants, while the heavy and swollen Fig Mari- 

 golds, the rigid Stapelias, the beautiful Heaths, and the 

 metallic foliage of the glistening Silver-tree, give a pecu- 

 liar character to the landscape. The products of the 

 tropical Flora, as well as the Crowfoot, Pink, Rose, and 

 Fennel tribes, are occasionally represented. 



529. Db Lisle's Region. — Further north (leaving 

 Madagascar and its neighboring Islands, which are pecu- 

 liarly rich in Ferns) we ascend to the tropical portions 

 of Africa. Here we find in abundance Leguminous 



Name of the next Eegion ? Define its limits. What anomalies ? What pe- 

 culiar character of its forests ? What use of valuable woods ? In what tribes 

 are the edges of the leaves presented to the light?' How in the Myrtles? 

 What tillie much sought by Florists? What beautiful sea-plant— Moss- 

 Lichen? Describe and name each. Describe the New Holland Lily. What 

 valuable plant — where lies its value ? What products in the British colonies — 

 principal crops? What TLegion next — where found ? What tribes numerous? 

 What other tribes, and peculiarities of each ? What remarkable tree? What 

 Flora, and what tribes, occasionally represented? Next Eegion — where? 



plants. Peppers, Passion-flowers, and Palms. Here the 

 giant Baobab seems to stand still within the circling 

 thousands of his years ; the lovely Date-Palm ripens its 

 grateful fruit, and woos with its feathery foliage the hot 

 breath of the Desert; and the tender-leaved Acacias, 

 fixed in the arid soil, extract from the torrid sunbeams 

 the coloring of their golden flower. Maize, MUlet, and 

 Rice, are the staple bread corns, for which Yams and 

 Potatoes sometimes afford a substitute ; but cultivation 

 is little known. 



530. Region op Asters and Golden-rods. — This 

 embraces the northern part of the United States, and 

 is chiefly marked by the multitudes of plants from 

 which it derives its name. It is also distinguished by 

 the gigantic Plane and beautiful Tulip-tree, by the great 

 variety of Oaks, Firs, and other deciduous and cone- 

 bearing trees, by the few Umbelliferous and Cruciferous 

 tribes, by the entire absence of Heaths, and the presence 

 of numerous species of the same Order in the Whortle- 

 berry tribes. Wheat and Maize are the staple bread 

 corns ; and all the common products of the temperate 

 zones are cultivated to advantage. 



531. Region of Magnolias. — This, too, is the 

 transition zone of the New World, and corresponds with 

 the Zone of Evergi'cen Trees in the old; but we flnd 

 fewer of the Mint and Pink tribes. Here the Live-Oak 

 and majestic Cotton-wood attain their perfect develop- 

 ment; and garlanded with the long gray mosses, give a 

 peculiar character to the scene. On the Uplands the beau- 

 tiful Magnolias and Horse-Chestnut expand their broad 

 and glossy leaves, and open their splendid flowers, while 

 in the dark swamps, which are scooped out into widely- 

 stretching basins, the Cedar stands on its ancient but- 

 tress, the sentinel of unknown ages. As we advance 

 southward the tropical character of the vegetation be- 

 comes more apparent ; the Palmetto appears, with many 

 parasites, and other climbers ; Oranges are cultivated in 

 the open air ; Maize is the chief bread corn ; and Sugar, 

 Rice, and Cotton are the staple products. 



532. Region of Cacti and Peppers. — This includes 

 the lower part of Mexico, the West Indies, and all inter- 

 tropical America. The first of these tribes belongs ex- 

 clusively to America ; and only a few individuals of the 



What plants numerous in Madagascar and its neighboring Isles ? Vi^hat tribes 

 found in abimdance ? What large tree^what beautiful trees ? Staple bread- 

 corns ? What important roots cultivated ? Is cultivation greatly advanced ? 

 Next Eegion — what embrace — by what chiefly marked — by what other features 

 distinguished— .staple bread-corns ? Next Eegion — with what zone correspond- 

 ing — ^%vhat tribes fewer — what fine trees — by what chiefly distinguished ? What 

 change in advancing south? What beautiful tree? The chief bread corn? 

 The staple products ? Nest Eegion — what countries included— by what dis. 

 tinguished ? Which tribe belongs exclusively to America ? 



