2 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
which the wide expanse of the Pacific is studded, either within the 
tropics or not very far without them, there are about five thou¬ 
sand species already known, though some of the largest and most 
tropical of those islands have been but imperfectly explored. 
Temperate America, in both hemispheres, contains about four 
thousand ; temperate Asia about two thousandand Europe, 
which lies wholly within the temperate zone, contains at least 
seven thousand distinct species of plants which bear flowers. In 
the polar regions of all parts of the world, flowering-plants are 
comparatively few; and nothing is known of the vegetation of 
such islands as lie within the southern polar circle. If, however, 
we may draw any inference from the vegetation of the extreme 
south of the American continent, we would be disposed to infer 
that the southern islands should be more flowery than northern 
lands in corresponding latitudes ; for this part of America very 
nearly corresponds to the latitude of Britain, where the mountains 
and wastes, even in certain soils in the extreme south, are covered 
with Heather ; whereas, the corresponding surfaces of Patagonia 
are covered with Fuchsia, over which certain species of humming¬ 
birds sport in the summer months, just as bees do over our 
heather when in bloom, though not, perhaps, exactly for the 
same purpose. 
When we consider the numbers above stated, it may appear 
that there is a great redundance in one part of the world, and a 
great deficiency in another ; as, for instance, it may seem strange 
that Europe, which has a very limited surface compared with 
those of temperate America and Asia, should contain seven thou¬ 
sand native species of flowering-plants, while the other two 
together contain only six thousand. It is to be understood, 
however, that the variety of plants depends not so much upon 
the absolute breadth of surface, as upon its varied character. 
Thus, it will be found that there are more flowers, that is, more 
species of flowers, upon a small steep bank, sloping down to a 
lowland stream, than there are upon many square miles of the 
surface of a heath-clad mountain. This explains why Europe 
should .have more indigenous flowers than the temperate parts 
of both the other quarters ; for the surface of Europe is exceed¬ 
ingly varied, and its climate is in many places- as variable, whereas 
temperate America and temperate Asia are far more uniform in 
both of these respects. 
