MEDITERRANEAN FLORA OF SINAI. 149 



Sinai, standing somewhat nearer to the eastern extremity, has a very 

 slight preponderance of eastern Desert forms. 



Uniformity such as this would tend to induce the belief that the con- 

 ditions had been long unaltered. But geology^ teaches us that during the 

 glacial epoch much of the Sahara was a sea-bed, and with glaciers on 

 Lebanon, and probably perpetual snow on Mount Sinai, our flora, in 

 whatever form or quantity it existed, must have at that time held more 

 southern ground. Until we are better acquainted with the features of the 

 interior of Southern Arabia, it is premature to indulge in further speculation. 



MEDITERRANEAN FLORA OF SINAI. 



The next column, that of the Mediterranean species properly so called, 

 is chiefly remarkable for its limited numbers. In the widest sense in 

 which this term is used, this list would be increased by the addition of 

 several from my Plateaux and Desert groups. But of typical Mediter- 

 ranean species very few can stand the droughts of Sinai, or else have 

 become so modified thereby that they now rank as distinct forms. The 

 number of non- European genera already enumerated best illustrates the 

 ?^;«-Mediterranean character of the flora. The proportion of this group to 

 the total is about one in six ; to the Desert total about one in four. Here, 

 as in-the-.last column, we are confronted with a majority of eastern plants. 



PLATEAUX OR MONTANE FLORA OF SINAI, AND GENERAL REMARKS. 



The Plateaux flora of Sinai is in some respects the most interesting. 

 The flora plants of the highest points are sometimes widespread Mediter- 

 ranean species, as Herniaria, Capparis, Poterium, and others ; but the 

 majority are plants of the Persian and Syrian elevated regions, or of those 

 lying due north in Asia Minor and in the Taurus region. Of the alpine 

 Lebanon species very few occur ; a Caryophyllaceous species (Gypsophila 

 hirsuta, S), an Astragal (A. echinus), and a Campanula (C. dulcis), are 

 the only representatives on Sinai. Gypsophila and an Arenaria (A, 



1 See Lyell, 'Principles of Geology,' vol. i., p. 253 ; Wallace, ' Distribution of Animals/ 

 vol. i., p. 39- 



