238 Vegetable Geography. 



Vegetable Geography, 



Lindley observes that this is one of the most curious and diffi- 

 cult subjects with which we can occupy ourselves. It embraces 

 a consideration of the constitution of the atmosphere and geo- 

 logical structure of all parts of the globe, and of the specific 

 effects of particular conditions of climate and soil upon vegeta- 

 tion ; all of them points upon which we can scarcely be said to 

 know anything. It involves the discussion of the plan upon 

 which the world was originally clothed with verdure ; and as 

 Humboldt most truly observes, it is closely connected with the 

 physical condition of the world in general. Upon the predomi- 

 nance of certain families of plants in particular districts depends 

 the character of the country, and the whole face of Nature. 

 Abundance of grasses forming vast savannahs, or of palms or firs, 

 have produced most important effects upon the social state of the 

 people, the nature of their manners and the degree of develop- 

 ment of the arts of industry. 



If we examine the surface of the globe we shall find its vege- 

 tation varying according to its inequalities and its differences of 

 soil ; we shall see that the plants of the valleys are not those 

 of the mountains, nor those of the marsh like the vegetables of 

 the river or of dry grounds ; it will also be seen that the vege- 

 tation of all valleys, all mountains, marshes, or rivers, has a simi- 

 lar character in the same latitudes. The flora of the granitic 

 mountains of Spain and Portugal is very different from that of 

 the calcareous mountains of the same kingdoms ; in Switzerland, 

 the Teucrium montanum always indicates a calcareous soil, 

 and the same may be said of the orchises of England. Hence 

 it is inferred that the differences in the character of vegetation 

 depend upon circumstances connected with the soil. or atmo- 

 sphere in which they grow. 



It will be of service to name a few of these classes ; and first, 

 the Maritime, or saline plants; those which without being 

 plunged in salt water, and floating on its surface, are neverthe- 

 less constrained to live in the vicinity of salt water for the pur- 

 pose of absorbing whatever may be required for their nourish- 

 ment. Among these it is requisite to distinguish those which, 

 like the Salicornia, grow in salt marshes, where they absorb 



