10 Geographical Botany of the United States. 



Art. III. On the Geographical Botany of the United States* 

 By Lewis C. Beck, M. D. 

 Part I. 



The science of Geographical Botany has for several years re- 

 ceived distinguished attention from many celebrated European bo- 

 tanists. Linneus, the founder of the system which has immortalized 



ment ; but it is since his time that the facts which have been col- 

 lected, have been moulded into form, and that their practical appli- 

 cation has been pointed out. In the accomplishment of this great 

 work, the researches of Wahlenberg, of Humboldt, and of Robert 

 Brown, are conspicuous. These have been succeeded by others in 

 various parts of Europe, and vegetable geography has now become 

 a subject of general interest to all who are engaged in investigating 

 the products of vegetation. 



Hitherto these efforts, on the other side of the Atlantic, have not 

 been seconded by any corresponding ones in our country ; and for 

 all the facts that we possess concerning the distribution and history 

 of its vegetable productions, we are indebted wholly to the works of 

 foreigners. But in these, many incorrect positions are advanced 

 and many interesting facts entirely overlooked. This will appear 

 less strange when we reflect, that the numerous additions which 

 have been made to our Flora during the last ten years, are only to be 

 found scattered through numerous scientific journals and the trans- 

 actions of scientific societies, which perhaps seldom meet the eye 

 of foreign botanists. 



Satisfied that a more complete examination of the Geographical 

 Botany of the United States, would amply repay the labour necessa- 

 ry for its completion, 1 devoted myself to the task— under the full 

 conviction, that in every science, the humble though laborious busi- 

 ness of collecting facts must precede the establishment of general 

 principles. The result of these investigations I am now induced to 

 present, in the hope that, should they be without interest to the gen- 

 eral reader, they may at least be of some value to the planto-ge- 

 ographer. 



As an introduction to my remarks, it is necessary to premise— that 

 the territory at present claimed by the United States, extends from 

 the 35th to the 64th parallel of north latitude, and from the 6?th to 



