ABSTEACTS. 



279 



Systematically considered, the volume refers to upwards of 2,r,00 

 species : 59 are Pteridophyta, 12 Gymnosperms, 707 are Monocotyledons, 

 and 1,700 Dicotyledons. Of the families most abounding in species are : 

 Composite?, 303 ; Grasses, 289 ; Sedges, 140 ; Leguminosce, 116 ; 

 Labiates, 60; Scrophulariacece, 59; Bosacece, 54; Umbelliferce, 46; 

 Banuncidacca, 43 ; Euphorbiacece, 44 ; Orchidacece, 40. Orders having 

 from 20 to 40 species are : PolygonacecB, Liliacece, Alsinece (of Caryo- 

 pliyllece), Ferns, Malvacece, Onagracece, Cupulifcrce, and Ericaceae. 



Only three endemic plants are known : Ncviusia alabamensis, Croton 

 alabamensis, and Trichomonas Petersii. Hence the flora closely agrees 

 with that of the adjoining regions. 



There is an interesting relationship with Eastern Asia and Japan, 

 first noticed by Asa Gray (Mem. N.Y. Acad., vol. vi., Part 1, 1859). It 

 is here most strikingly manifest in the arboreal and shrubby vegetation of 

 the numerous genera of the catkin-bearing families, such as Walnut, 

 Chestnut, Oak, Beech, Hazelnut, Ironwood, Ostrya, Willow, Myrica ; 

 and of conifers, such as Pine, Hemlock, Cliamcecyparis, Juniper ; to 

 which may be added Elm, Mulberry, Lime, Pear, Plum, Amelanchier, 

 Maple, Witch-hazel, Rhus, and Ash. This is increased by those confined 

 to the south-eastern section of the continent, as Magnolia and IUicium, 

 Persea and Benzoin of the Laurel family ; Storax, Catalpa, kc. 



One hundred and sixty genera, or nearly 26 p.c. of those indigenous 

 in Alabama, belonging to 66 families, have their representatives in East 

 Asia. 



Only about 40 species are identical with those in East Asia, though 

 many are closely allied to each other. 



Not less than 290 genera, or 40 p.c, are represented in West Indies, 

 Mexico, Central America, and more rarely in South America, as far south 

 as Argentina. 



One hundred families, with 230 genera, or 35 p.c, are common with 

 the flora of the Mediterranean regions, while 55 species occur also in 

 Western Europe. 



The Sub-floras of Alabama.- — As the climate is mild, with an abun- 

 dant rainfall, the conditions are favourable for tree growth ; hence 

 forests constitute the most extensive of plant formations, from the 

 mountain heights of the north to the shores of the Gulf ; so that 

 upwards of 50 p.c. of the State has original forest growth. Of 172 

 arboreal species, fifteen are introductions. The deciduous forests, marked 

 by the prevalence of amentiferous trees, prevail in the northern part of 

 the State. Of the thirty-one species of evergreen trees nearly all are 

 distributed throughout the warmer temperate and subtropical regions of 

 east North America. 



The open-land flora is \ ery limited, but the cretaceous plain abounds 

 in certain composites, as species of Lilium, Helianthus, and Erigeron. 



The swamp flora is mostly in the lower Pine region of the coast plain. 

 Among the 227 species of vascular hydrophytes, 11 are pteridophytes, 139 

 species are monocotyledons, and 77 dicotyledons. 



There are a certain amount of epiphytes, as among Orchids and Ferns ; 

 of saprophytes and parasites, as of Orobancliaccce, species of Cuscuta and 

 the ' American Mistleto ' (Plioradendron flavescens). 



