III, TYPES OF DISTRIBUTION. 23 
will re-appear on maritime cliffs, although absent from the open 
plains and low hills between the coast and the mountains. Thus, 
on the southern acclivities of the Grampian mountains, Savifraga 
oppositifolia is seldom seen below a thousand feet of elevation ; 
although still farther south, it was found on the west-coast of 
Scotland, by Professor Balfour, very little above the sea-level. 
On the coast, consequently, this ‘ alpine plant’ intermingles with 
species which never occur at alpine elevations on the mountains.” 
» 
3. Types or DISTRIBUTION. 
In addition to their distribution traced horizontally through 
provinces and counties, or northwards and upwards through 
ascending zones, a third mode of indicating the geographical 
relations of plants requires explanation here Many species are 
spread over the whole island; at any rate, are so spread near the 
coast level; while others are limited to one, two, three, or more of 
the provinces. The same holds true of their distribution in 
ascending zones ; some species being found in all of the six zones, 
others only in one or more of them. Perhaps no two species have 
exactly the same distribution or uniform frequency of repetition ; 
and yet certain general similarities can be traced, by which the 
native species can be grouped together under a few leading Types 
of Distribution,—as they are at present named, in the want of 
some better designation. The groups into which it has been found 
convenient to congregate the plants of Britain, are primarily six ; 
to which two others are subordinate or supplementary. They may 
be briefly shown thus :— 
1. British type,—species widely spread through 8. M. N. Britain. 
2. English type,—species chiefly seen in 8. or 8. M. Britain. 
3. Scottish type,—species chiefly seen in N. or in N. M. Britain. 
Intermediate type,—species chiefly seen in Mid Britain. 
4, Highland type,—species chiefly seen about the mountains. 
. Germanic type,—species chiefly seen in Kast England. 
6. Atlantic type,—species chiefly seen in West England. 
Local species, restricted to single or few provinces. 
+ 
OT 
