26
Fraxinus,Pinus,Populus, Tilia: in others to America and Asia.;
as are the Juglans, Magnolia, Vitis: in others, they are common
to all these continents, as the Acer, Salix, and Delphinium.
In the whole world there are known only two species of Li-
quidambar, two of Panax, two of Platanus, two of Stillingia,
two of Planera; one species in each of these genera inhabits
Asia and the other America. Instances equally striking are
mentioned by De Candolle,, in which speciesbelonging to genera,
equally restricted in number, are distributed to North
America and to Europe.
Similar observations are formed on comparing the three
great equatorial countries of America, Asia and Africa. The
intertropical regions of these three continents display genera
common to two, or to all of them; bu t the species are different
in each. America and Africa contain, between the tropics,
different speeies of Crataeva, Bertiera, Elseis. Sagus and
Strophranthus are, in a similar manner, divided: bet ween equatorial
Africa and Asia. Species of Psychotria and Besonia
are in Asia and America; and all the three equatorial regions
contain distinct speeies of Melastoma, Stercutia, and du^iepii.
Again, Cytinus, Sphenoclea, Melothria, Gyrocarpus, Sauva-
gesia, .each containing only two known species, distribute
them separately in the like manner.*
In the southern hemisphere, the three great continents contain
towards their southern extremities, three v.ery remarkable
botanical provinces. A certain analogy ^ has been observed
in the vegetable forms which display themselves in all
these regions ; but there is by far the strongest resemblance
between the vegetation of South Africa and that of Terra
Australis, under the same parallels. In reference to this subject,
I shall cite M. Lesehenault, who has-drawn the most
striking picture of the aspect of the Australian forests.
ifi I f the animal kingdom in New Holland offers remarkable
peculiarities' which isolate it, if I may be allowed the expression,
from all other parts of the world, the vegetable
kingdom has a character no less distinctive. This character
relates not only to botanical differences, but likewise to a na-
De Candolle ubisupra.
tural physiognomy, which", would be remarked by the most
careless observers. The vegetation only of the southern
parts of Africa can be compared to th a t of New Holland : in
the same latitudes, we find innumerable legions of heaths and
proteæ, which include, many shrubs remarkable for their
graceful and delicate forms, adorning the otherwise barren
soil of either climate.” ' < ■ ^
“ But in all the places we have visited, and above all on
the western side of New Holland, we do not find y (in the great
masses of vegetation? either the majesty of the virgin forests
of the new world, or the variety>and- elegance .of those of
Asm, or the delicacy and freshness of the wdods of our temperate,
countrieâi; of Europe. The * vegetation is generally
gloomy and sad; it has the -aspect^of our evergreens,or
heaths : the plants are for; the-most parts woody : the leaves
of nearly all the plants- are linear,-fànceolated, small, coriaceous
and; spinescent. This •.contexture of vegetable productions
is -the^effect pf the aridity of £the4§o!il>-and the dryd^jS
of the climate : it is, without doubt-,Ho>tbeso same causçs
that th#1 rarity of cryptogamous ’ and herbaceous1 plants i;S
Owing, The grasses, which elsewhere ar,e; generally soft and
flexible, participate in the stiffness of th e gother vegetable's;
The greater part oF the plants'of New Holland, belong to new
D-ener-a ; and- those included in theigenqra jalready known, are
!y@f new- species.. The natural families which prevail, are those
of tjte Heaths, the Protçæ, Comphsifæ, Legpminosæ and
Myrthoideæ. The larger trées- all belong towtmsdast family,
and almost exclusively to the genus■ Eucalyptus.
“ The families which I have mentioned are spread-ve^,abundantly,
and form a great part of the vegetation. ^TM& Temark
• grèves to what an extent the system of natural families is in
accordance with the method of n a t u ^ which, seldom .r e f e r s
Species isolated, but on the contrary, réunîtes them, nearly
always in great number,, upon the. same soil and in a similar
climate.”*
• Observations de M. Lesehenault, forming an Appfeh&fc!' td Perbn’s Yoÿkge
autour du Monde.
See also M. Lesson.—Tableau Physique de la Nouvelle Hbüande. “ -Tous les
végétaux de la Nouvelle Hollande ont un caractère unique, c’est celui de posséder