20 



M. Ramon d on the Vegetation 



[Appendix. 



tries so much alike and near each other, nor on the other hand, 

 to great a conformity as exists among the plants of some of these 

 countries, and the plants of some Alpine regions distant from 

 them 40 degrees. 



In fact, we learn from actual observation, that the dissemina- 

 tion of vegetables is not always regulated in parallel distances 

 from the equator: that if a certain number of plants, confined by 

 their constitution to a peculiar climate, are to be found to a cer- 

 tain distance under the same latitudes, many others, on the con- 

 trary, have been scattered over different countries in thedirection 

 of their meridians. Towards the south, America, Africa, and Asia, 

 towards the north, Europe, Asia, and America, are far from pro- 

 ducing the same vegetables under the same parallels ; while many 

 plants, growing wild in each of these grand divisions of the globe, 

 brave every obstacle opposed to them by a diversity of climate, 

 and propagate themselves in a geographical direction, quite con- 

 trary to that, which a similar climate would confine them to. 



Thus, for example, many of the curious plants of Sardinia, 

 Sicily, and Italy, mount up the Swiss Alps, and then descend again 

 into the lower parts of Germany, without being allured by our 

 fine climate to France. Thus, likewise, the Pyrenees receive from 

 Spain a great number of the plants from Barbary, scattering them 

 over the western provinces of France. The Merendera, which 

 grows in thenorthof Africa, is found in Andalusia, Castile, Arragon, 

 when crossing the Pyrenees it descends as far as the Landes de 

 Bourdeaux. The Narcissus Bulbocodium,* and Hyacintkus Serotinus, 



* Here the celebrated author confounds three very distinct species. The Plant ofthe 

 Pyrenees is the N. Bulbocodium L. with erect leaves, very hardy, and brought forced to 

 Govent-garden in abundance every spring. The plant of Barbary and Andalusia which 

 I received from the late Professor Bkoussonet is more dwarf, with leaves spreading 

 flat on the ground, and so tender, that it will only live here through winter, w 

 very warm sandy soils, close to a wall. The plant of Castile grows also near Oporto, 

 and differs from both the others, in having a six-lobed plaited crown, with very nairo 

 leaves : it is not very tender, but requires a dry sandy soil. Seer. 



