680 SOHOUW'S PHYTO-GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS. 



mountains of Spain. Polar regions, mean temperature, 2° to 41° F.; 

 mountains in the south, 21° to 37° F. 



2. The Region of Umbelliferse and Cruoiferse, including the North- 

 European and North-Asiatic Flora (Linnseus's Region). — These orders 

 are here in much greater number than in any other region. Rosacese, 

 Ranunculaceae, Fungi, Amentiferse, and Ooniferae, are likewise very nume- 

 rous ; the abundance of Carices, and the fall of the leaves of almost all the 

 trees during winter, form also important features of this division. It 

 may be separated into two distinct provinces : — Ij The province of the 

 Cichoracese, which embraces all the north of Europe not comprehended 

 in the preceding region, namely, Britain, the North of France, the 

 Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, and the greater 

 part of European Russia. 2. The province of the Astragali, Saline 

 plants, as Salsola and Salicornia, and Oynarocephato, which in- 

 cludes a part of Asiatic Russia, and the countries about the Caucasian 

 and Altai mountains. Mean temperature, 29° to 46° F. The culti- 

 vated plants are — Rye, Barley of different kinds, Oats, Wheat and 

 Spelt, Maize, Millet, the Potato, Buckwheat, Apple and Pear, Quince, 

 Cherry, Plum, Apricot, Peach, Mulberry, Walnut, Vine, Gooseberry 

 and Currant, Strawberry, Cucumber and Melon, Cabbage, Mustard, 

 Pea, Bean, Beet, Spinach, Carrot, Flax, Hemp, Trefoils and Vetches, 

 Rye-grass, etc. 



3. The Region of Labiatse and Caryophyllacese, or the Mediterranean 

 Flora (De CandoUe's Region). — It is distinguished by the abundance 

 of the plants belonging to these two orders. Oompositae, Galiaceae, 

 Boraginaceae, also occur in considerable quantity. Some tropical fami- 

 lies are also met with, such as Palms, Laurels, Aracese, Anacardiacess, 

 grasses belonging to the genus Panicum (millet), and some, as Cyperacese, 

 Solanacese, Malvacese, Leguminosse, Urticacese, and Euphorbiacese in- 

 crease. The forests are composed chiefly of Amentiferse and Coniferae, 

 as birches, oaks, firs, etc. ; the copses, of Ericaceae (the heath tribe) 

 and Anacardiacese, as the mastich. We meet in this region with a 

 great number of evergreen trees. Vegetation never ceases entirely, 

 but verdant meadows are more rare. Schouw divides this region into 

 five provinces : — 1. The province of the Cistuses, including Spain and 

 Portugal. 2. The province of the Salvias and Scabiosse, the south of 

 France, Italy, and Sicily. 3. The province of the Shrubby Labiatae, 

 the Levant, Greece, Asia Minor, and the southern part of the Cauca- 

 sian countries. 4. The Atlantic province, the north of Africa. 5. The 

 province of Semperviva, the Canary Isles, and probably also the Azores, 

 Madeira, and the north-west coast of Africa ; many Sempervivums, 

 and some Euphorbias with naked and spiny stems, particularly charac- 

 terise this province. Erica arborea, Vaccinium maderense, and Pinus 



