28 MB. J. IIORNE ON THE BOTANY OF THE SEYCHELLES. 



the Seychelles, Dittelasma rarah for the Malay islands ; those for 

 Madagascar and E. Africa are so numerous that examples are 

 needless. The Oceanic or Polynesian flora has many represen- 

 tatives in Seychelles, among which may be mentioned, Barring- 

 tonia speciosa, B. racemosa, Calophyllum inophyllum, Heritiera lit- 

 toralis, Cordia subcordata, &c. Calophyllums of two or three spe- 

 cies are indigenous to Mauritius ; but C. inophyllum is not one of 

 them. Besides the above, it is to be noted that several other 

 oceanic genera and species are not found in Mauritius, although 

 common plants in the Seychelles. The geological formations of the 

 several parts may have something to do in the distribution of 

 plants, as well as the currents of the ocean. The Seychelles, Mada- 

 gascar, E. Africa, and S. India are granitic, as well as many of the 

 Malay and Polynesian islands ; and during all the greater part 

 of the year a strong sea-current passes the Seychelles from the 

 east. 



■ 



The appearance, nature, and kind of plants I collected in the 

 Seychelles in 1871 lead me to form the above opinion regarding 

 the Seychelles' flora. When you have seen and examined the 

 plants I collected in the Seychelles this year, I have no doubt that 

 this opinion will be confirmed, the whole being taken^into 

 consideration. I have also concluded, whether rightly or wrongly, 

 that the balance of the Seychelles' flora is in favour of the Mas- 

 earene, if the flora of Madagascar is the typical one, but not if the 

 Mauritius flora is the standard round which the Mascarene flora 



is gathered. Of course the Seychelles have what may be termed 

 their local peculiarities ; but what these are it would be difficult for 

 me to guess, as I have not many books of reference and have but 

 few specimens from Madagascar. Besides, at least to me, com- 

 paratively little is known of the plants in that large island. When 

 more is known of them, I dare say that some plants which may now 

 be considered peculiar to the Seychelles will be found to belong 

 to Madagascar also. I here more especially refer to the unnamed 

 EubiacesD in my last collection. The publication of two or three 

 works now in hand will throw a good deal of light on this sub- 

 ject. I allude to the ' Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles ' by 

 Mr. Baker, the c Flora of Tropical A frica ' by Professor Oliver, and 

 the ' Flora of India.' But it will not be well lighted up until 

 more of the Madagascar plants are known. To any young man 

 who wished to make a name for himself, exploring and collect- 

 ing the plants of Madagascar would be really worth his trouble. 



