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_ Botanical Geography. SNES A Apes ae 
known as ‘mezquit,’ while, associated with other thorny 
shrubs, it constitutes the ‘ chaparals.’ 
14. Lhe Californian Region. 
The climate of this strip of coast, which is of a purely 
maritime character, is determined by the uniformity of 
the temperature—that of summer and winter differing by 
- only a few degrees—and the regular alternation of a moist 
cooler season with a rainless summer. In the mildness and 
short duration of the winter, in the rainless summer of tne 
forest-region beyond the Oregon, and—in contrast to the 
prairies—in the length of the period of active growth neces- 
sary for the development of arborescent vegetation, the 
climate of California resembles that of the Mediterranean, ' 
although the mean temperature is not so high. The © 
_ culture of the vine has struck root here, and that of cereals 
and fodder-crops yields in places extraordinary results. 
Arboreal vegetation here attains its maximum development 
in the gigantic mammoth-trees, the Seguoza [or Wellingtonia] 
_ _gteantea, the loftiest of known trees. Other gigantic though 
somewhat less lofty conifers, and evergreen exogenous trees, 
- oaks, limes, ashes, and willows, shrubs allied to the oleander, 
_myrtle, and heaths, as well as numerous smaller bushes and 
grasses growing in great masses, complete the flora of this 
- small but remarkable region, which often assumes a park- 
like character. 
15. Zhe Mexican Region. 
This region may be divided, according to its elevation | 
above the sea-level, into three zones:—the gulf-zone, the’ 
zone of the Mexican highlands, and the Pacific zone. The 
first, a narrow strip of coast, rises above the dry sea-shore in 
gently sloping grass savannahs, interrupted here and there 
_ by woody tracts, and even by groups of palms. A much 
. GG 
