MH 
FLORA OF MADAGASCAR. 251 
now have sufficient data to enable us to draw a few general con- 
clusions as to the character and distribution of this very inter- 
esting and remarkable flora. 
The following figures will show at a glance the number of 
Natural Orders and genera of flowering plants represented in 
Madagascar as compared with those known throughout the 
world, according to Bentham and Hooker’s ‘Genera Planta- 
rum ’:— 
Total known in the World: Orders 200, Genera 7569. 
» » Madagascar: , 144, „ 970. 
The number of genera here given comprises those only that 
are indigenous tothe island. If we include the numerous plants 
that have at one time or other been introduced, the total number 
of the genera would be raised probably to about 1050. 
Of the 4100 indigenous plants at present known in Madagascar, 
about 3000 (or three fourths of the total flora) are, remarkable 
to say, endemic. Even of the Graminew and Cyperaces about 
two fifths of the plants in each Order are peculiar to the island. 
There is but one Natural Order confined to Madagascar, the 
Chlznacez, with 24 species, which, however, M. Baillon places 
under Ternstremiacex. Of Ferns more than a third are endemic, 
and of Orchids as much as five sixths, facts which in themselves 
are sufficient to give a very marked individuality to the character 
of the flora. 
Of the 4100 known plants, there are :— 
Dieotyledons .............. 3492 
Monocotyledons . .. ....... 248 
Acotyledons * ........... Ls. 360 
4100 
the lowlands of the southern part of the country is least known of all. The 
plants, moreover, which Mr. Baker has examined are by no means only those 
* of the mountainous parts of Madagascar." They have been gathered in the 
lowlands as well as in the higher parts of the island, though not, perhaps, to 
so great an extent. 
* This includes only the Filices, Equisetacez, Lycopodiacez, and Selaginel- 
lacex. The remaining Acotyledonous Orders are as yet very imperfectly 
known. Of Mosses about 250 have been described, and of Rhizophorez 5. 
