352 MR. W. B. HEMSLEY ON THE BOTANICAL 
many of the described Malayan species of this exceedingly large 
genus are not represented in the herbaria of this country. The 
trunk of the Inocarpus especially is highly curious, and is described 
in detail by Ellis (* Polynesian Researches ’) and Seemann (* Flora 
Vitiensis’); and Mr. Lister brought home sections of a young 
one in which the three buttress-projections are deeper than the 
central portion. Captain Aldrich measured one of the largest but- 
tressed trees met with, which was about 800 feet above the sea-level. 
Outside the buttresses on the ground it was 75 feet in circumfer- 
ence; at 2 feet above the ground 56 feet ; from the outer edge of the 
biggest buttress to the trunk nearly 14 feet, and 15 feet 6 inches 
to the top of the buttress. This may have been the Eugenia in 
question, as the Znocarpus does not appear to attain such large 
dimensions ; or it may have been a fig-tree, though no specimens 
of any species werecollected. That fig-trees exist in the island 
may almost be taken for granted; because they are among the 
earliest arboreous colonists in coral islands. There are also 
very large trees in the island without buttresses; and Captain 
Aldrieh mentions that Lieutenant Baker measured one in the 
neighbourhood of Flying-fish Cove, which was perfectly straight, 
and at 4 feet from the ground was 34 feet in circumference. 
This is probably the tree we have not been able to determine at 
Kew, and is here doubtfully referred to the Burseracee. 
As Mr. Lister states, a large proportion of the trees bear 
edible fruits ; and there is every reason to suppose that the island 
has been stocked with plants by winds, carrying the spores of 
cryptogamous plants, and by birds, carrying the seeds of phanero- 
gamous plants, and to a much smaller extent by ocean-currents. 
With the exception of two or three spots, the coast consists of 
overhanging cliffs rising out of deep water, and there is no port 
or extensive beach; hence there are comparatively few littoral 
plants. With regard to those plants described as new, it should 
not be assumed that they are endemic, because so much remains 
to be done in the investigation of the flora of Java and other 
islands. 
In conclusion, I should add that I have acted as editor rather 
than author of this Report, though I am responsible for the pew 
species described by myself. The plants were first compared 
under Professor Oliver’s supervision, and a provisional report 
was furnished by him, the gist of which was that most of the 
plants could not be exactly matched with their congeners from 
