The geography of plants.

Date:
[1850?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The geography of plants. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of cacti, and the cactus-like euphorbias, which we have before described, begin here. As the height increases, the palms become fewer, the bananas diminish in size, the ginger tribe dis- appear, but the orchidese and flowering parasites become more numerous, and we approach— 2. The region of tree ferns and figs, from an altitude of 1,900 feet to 3,GOO or 3,800 feet, and answering in some measure to the tropical zone. The tree ferns will not flourish, however, but in a very damp climate; in barren soil or a dry atmosphere they are quite wanting. NVe have already attempted to give some account of this singularly beautiful tribe of plants, which cap- tivate the eye of every traveller in those regions. On the American mountains, the cinchonce (or trees yielding Peruvian bark) here begin to appear, though they extend upwards through the two next regions as well. This plant is of very great importance in medicine, about 200,000 pounds being annually imported into this country. Quinine is extracted from it. Various species of fig, pepper, passion flowers as tall and as thick as our oaks, bread fruit, calce- olarias, etc., abound in this region. 3. The region of the myrtles and laurels, from 3,800 ieet to 5,700 feet. Here myrtles, camellias, magnolias,heaths, and acacias abound, and form some of the most striking features in the vegetation. The cultivation of the banana extends within this region. Trees of the fig tribe appear at the height of 3,000 feet on the mountains of Java, together with the curious