portunity of comparing them. De Candolle has made a similar
observation, with respect to the older botanists in
neral. Theywère too ready to admit, without discrimination,
identity of species, when they discovered in ' distant regions
plants resembling those of Europe;
In parts of the same continents remote from each other, or
isolated by mountainous barriers, or cut off by sandy or
rocky deserts or by wide rivers, which, however, are less
effectual causes of separation than those before mentioned,
•different aggregates of plants are likewise found ; and though
the limitation of species is in such examples not so decided
as in some of the instances already pointed out, it isvyet very
strongly marked. Several attempts have-been made, with reference
to these observations, to distribute .the surface of the
earth into different regions of vegetation or botanical provinces.
The following is the enumeration adopted by M. De
Candolle.
1. The Hyperborean region, which comprehends the
northern extremities of Asia, Europe and America.
2. The European region, comprehending^ all the middle
parts of Europe, excluding the countries which approach the
pole,“as well as those which border on the Mediterranean;
and Teaching eastward nearly to the mountains of Altai.
3. The Siberian region including the great * steppes of
Siberia and of Tartary.*
* I t was long ago observed by Gmelin, that- th e , eastern part of Siberia constitutes
a distinct province in_the animal’ and vegetable world. In the preface to his
Flora Sibirica, Gmelin has remarked that the river Yenisei seems to be a natural
limit with respect to organized productions between Europe and Asia. c( After
passing to the eastward of this river, the traveller sees every thing under new appearances
s a néw and unusual vigour reigns .iii thd vegetable creation. The
mountains, which to the westward, ' as far as the Uralian chain, appeared only
scattered, now take full possession, and are interspersed with the most beautiful
valleys. New animals, the Argali, Musk, and others, begin to shew themsèlves.
The plants of Europe disappear, and Nature begins suddenly to display a creation
of vegetable tribes peculiar to Asia.” Fallas has confirmed these remarks of
Gmelin, with some modifications. He says, that in the western parts of Siberia,
immediately beyond the Uralian chain, the vegetation still remains similar to that
of Pannoriia : very few of the plants proper to Siberia are there seen, especially in
the lower countries toward the north. On ascending the Irtish towards the chain
4. The Mediterranean region,. comprehending the whole
geographical basin of the Mediterranean, viz. that part of
Africa which lies-to the north ward, of the Zahara, and those
countries in Europe which are sheltered: to the northward by
chains of mountains .more dr? legs ‘continuous. j$
5. The eastern European .region, comprehending the countries
which border* ion the Euxjuearid the Caspian»;;
* 6. India and its .Archipelago.
7. China, Cochin-china and Japan. .
8. New HoLlandyyj
9. jÉguth Africa,, beyond the tropic,
1 Ol Abyssinia,, Nubja,l<j and the coast of Mozambique, ©!!
which. our' information is very defectiie-. ffl
11. Equinoctial western Africa, including the borders of the
Congo, Senegal, and Gambia.
12. The Canary islands.
13. The .Üriifëd’Suites of North American
14. J The westqfri/.coast of'Nojth America within thé: t É ^
.pefate zone.
15. The Antilles.
1$^' Mexiëo//;
17,. Intertropical South America.
Chili. ;
|*T9. ^Söfrthern Brazil and Buenos Ayres.
5 2'0',,R.rnie Magellanic countries.
Lastly, each of the islands sufficiently remote from mainlands
to afford a peculiar vegetation, óiSgKré to bë added to
this catalogue.
of Altai a variation is perceived s the plants of the mountainous tracts begin to have
affinity to those of the Yenisei. In the high plains beyond the Oby many plants
abound, which are wanting in western Siberia, in th^ lower countries, and are only
found towards ;the Altaic mountains. As you .go up the Yenisei, the vegetation of
the mountains takes the ascendancy: to the southward of Lake Baikal is its'true
native seat. In the easternmost tracts of Siberia and Kamtschatka, even in'the
low hills and plains, most of those plants are found which grow on the steppes, and
some of them in the northern marshes which border the Jqy sea. j See Pallasy Reisen
in Siherien, French translation, imh. vi. p. 157.
I t seems hence that the vegetable tribes óf this region have their true native
seat in the high chain of Altai and Sayan, and that from this tract, where they are
truly indigenous^ they descend along the courses of the great rivers, sparingly towards
the western parts, but in great abundance to the eastward of the Yenisei.
D