294 MR. B A. BOLEE ON THE 



than otherwise, for we know sufficient of the floras of Formosa 

 and Borneo to see that each contains a large number of species 

 distinct from those of the Philippines. To Borneo especially 

 we may look for additional connections. One of the principal 

 reasons why the connection with Borneo is not more marked 

 maybe attributed to the fact that it is the southern islands which 

 are so little known — Balabac, Palawan, the Sulu Archipelago, 

 and Mindanao. When these have been well explored the 

 number will probably be very largely increased. Celebes, too, 

 and the Moluccas may be expected to yield several additional 

 connections, more especially with Mindanao. Sufficient, how- 

 ever, is known to show the leading features of the flora ; and 

 we may now briefly consider the endemic element in it. 



One of the most peculiar features which strike us is the large 

 number of endemic species and the very small number of en- 

 demic genera. At present six only of the latter are know from 

 the group. A glance at surrounding islands renders this 

 more apparent. Java has 30 endemic genera, Borneo 28, and 

 Sumatra 14. Further away, we find Ceylon with 17, New Cale- 

 donia with 42, New Guinea with 10, and Fiji with 9. One 

 endemic genus only is recorded from Formosa on the north ; but 

 the little island of Hong Kong has four. One only is recorded 

 from Celebes ; but this island is little known, and more will pro- 

 bably be found. In most of the foregoing islands the proportion 

 of endemic species is not so much in excess of the Philippines, if 

 indeed, some do not actually fall behind them. 



Turning to the endemic species we find a number of Orders, 

 represented by a proportion of at least half endemic, as Bubiaceae, 

 Myrtaceae, Verbenaceae, Meliaceae, Anonaceae, Myrsinese, Cyr- 

 taudraceae, Loranthaceae, Cupuliferae, Ternstrceiniacea?, Diptero- 

 carpeae, Sterculiaeeae, Tiliaceae, Burseracea?, Celastrinea?, Conna- 

 raeeae, Combretaceae, Malpighiaceaa, Ocbnacea?, Chailletiaceae, 

 Vacciniaceae, Ericaceae, Aristolochiaceae, and a few other small 

 Orders. This estimate is based on the material in the Kew 

 Herbarium, not on Villar's enumeration. The only species of 

 Myrica* yet known is endemic; Ilicineae has four endemic 



* Myrica lusonica, S. Vidal, ' Synopsis' (Atlas), p. 40, t. ic. fig. B, is not a 

 Myrica. It belongs to Euphorbiaceaj, and may prove to be a species of Sapium ; 

 but at present only the male flowers are known. 



