114 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Henslow, who regarded two of the plants as new species. We have not seen the 

 specimens, but from the description and figure of Stenotaphrum lepturoide we believe it 

 is nothing more than Stenotaphrum americanum, Schrank, which is a common littoral 

 grass in the tropical regions of both hemispheres, and not very different from the 

 Stenotaphrum subulatum of our list. And Urera gaudichaudiana, Hensl., is treated by 

 Weddell l as a variety of the widely spread Fleurya cestuans, Gaud. The Ccssalpinia may 

 be correctly named, or it may be the much commoner Ccssalpinia bonducetta, for the two 

 species have been much confused ; though both doubtless owe their wide dispersion in part, 

 at least, to oceanic currents. Triumfetta procumbens is a common seaside plant in the 

 Archipelago and Polynesia, and is also found on the coast of North-eastern Australia. 

 Cordia orientalis is a synonym of the Cordia subcordata of our list. Ochrosia parviflora, 

 Hensl. (Cerbera parviflora, Forst.), is a common seaside tree in the Pacific Islands, and 

 also occurs in North-eastern Australia. Achyranthes argentea is a variety of Achyranthes 

 aspera, rather than a distinct species, and Lepturus repens is a common Polynesian and 

 Australian littoral crass. 



Darwin's sketch of the vegetation of the Keeling Islands 2 merits reproducing here, as 

 it conveys a good idea of the aspect of the coral islands : — 



" The cocoanut-tree at the first glance seems to compose the whole wood ; there are, however, five 

 or six other trees. One of these grows to a very large size, but from the extreme softness of its 

 wood is useless ; another sort affords excellent timber for ship-building. Besides the trees, the 

 number of plants is exceedingly limited, and consists of insignificant weeds. In my collection, which 

 includes, I believe, nearly the perfect flora, there are twenty species, without reckoning a moss, 3 lichen, 4 

 and fungus. 5 To this number two trees must be added, one of which was not in flower, and the other 

 I only heard of. The latter is a solitary tree of its kind, and grows near the beach, where, without 

 doubt, the one seed was thrown up by the waves. A Gtdlandina also grows on only one of the islets. 

 I do not include in the above list the sugar-cane, banana, some other vegetables, fruit-trees, and 

 imported grasses. As the islands consist entirely of coral, and at one time must have existed as 

 mere water-washed reefs, all their terrestrial productions must have been transported here by the 

 waves of the sea. In accordance with this, the florula has quite the character of a refuge for the 

 destitute. Professor Henslow informs me that of the twenty species, nineteen belong to different 

 genera, and these again to no less than sixteen families. 



" In Holman's Travels," an account is given, on the authority of Mr A. S. Keating, who resided 

 twelve months on these islands, of the various seeds and other bodies which have been known to 

 have been washed on shore : ' Seeds and plants from Sumatra and Java have been driven up by the 

 surf on the windward side of the islands. Among them have been found the Kimiri, native of 

 Sumatra and the peninsula of Malacca ; the cocoanut of Balci, known by its shape and size ; the 



1 DC, Prodr., xvi. 1, p. 72. 



2 Journal of Researches during the voyage of H.M.S. "Beagle," p. 454, Lond. Ed., 1879. 



:: Eypnum fuscescens, Hook, et Am., not Hypnum rufescens, Hook., as by mistake appears in Henslow's paper. 

 The former is a Polynesian species, while the latter inhabits Alpine situations in Europe. 



4 Not included in Henslow's paper. '•> Polijporus lucidus, Pries. c Holman's Travels, iv. p. 378. 



