PLANTS COLLECTED IN BAHAMAS, ETC. 163 



It would seem to the writer that the ordinary methods 

 of dissemination would account for the flora of the Bahama 

 Islands without calling in the aid of hypotheses founded on 

 ancient land connection. There are probably no more 

 endemic species than would be found if all the islands were 

 at present connected. It seems hardly reasonable to sup- 

 pose that Watling's, Crooked Island or Inagua have ever 

 been connected with Cuba or any of the other islands, yet 

 the flora of these have about the same relation to Cuba as 

 do the islands of the Bahama bank. From the table it will 

 be seen that the flora comes from the south, that it is 

 essentially Cuban and that this flora has also established 

 itself in the extreme southern part of Florida, where it is 

 found only on the most recent formations. Climatic con- 

 ditions undoubtedly prevent any great extension to the 

 north, but most of the plants would probably extend 

 further north than they do, were they not brought into 

 competition with an established flora. On the other hand 

 very few plants from the Southern States have found 

 their way to the Bahamas, and those that have are mostly 

 such as are of wide distribution in the Tropics and hence 

 just as probably came from the south as from Florida. 



Again, the facilities for distribution, the ocean currents 

 and the prevailing winds, are from the south to the north. 

 The Gulf Stream not only tends to bring plants from the 

 south but quite effectually prevents any from drifting from 

 Florida to the Bahamas. The current is so strong that the 

 occasional northers would be more than counteracted, while 

 the easterly winds are favored. What is true of the Gulf 

 Stream to the west of the Bahamas is also true of the 

 Equatorial Current to the east. Distribution by birds is 

 apparently of little importance or we should find more 

 plants with pulpy fruits brought from Florida. Maritime 

 plants are easily distributed by currents as their seeds are 

 not injured by the salt water, and furthermore, as stated 

 by Hemsley and Wallace, when cast ashore they find a 

 suitable place for germination, while many other seeds 



