284 Floristik und Systematik der Phanerogamen. 



Smith, J. D., Undescribed plants from Guatemala and 

 other Central American Republics. XXVI. (Botanical 

 Gazette. XXXVII. p. 417—423. June 1904.) 



Robinsonella edentnla Rose and Sm., Hoffmannia arborescens Sm., 

 Coussarea impetiolaris Sm., Neurolaena Cobanensis Greenm., Senecio 

 calyculatus Greenm., 5. petasioides Greenm., Cavendishia longiflora 

 Sm., Solanum Amatitlanense Coult. and Sm., 5. Arrazelense Coult. and 

 Sm., S 1 . Mazatenangense Coult. and Sm., 5 1 . Quichensc Coult. and Sm., 

 Louteridium Costaricense Radi, and Sm., and Pteris longifolia angusta 

 Christ. Trelease. 



WEINDORFER, G., Some Considerations of the Origin 



of our alpine Flora. (Victorian Naturalist. Vol. XXI. 



No. 1. May 1904.) 



The plants in alpine regions occur under three conditions: 1. those 

 which occur exclusively and endemically in alpine regions, e. g. Heli- 

 chrysam stirlingii, Oxylobium alpestre, Acipliylla glacialis etc., 2. those 

 which have ascended from lower to higher elevations, either retaining 

 their habit or exhibiting only the growth characteristic oi alpines, e. g., 

 Wahlenbergia glacialis, Candollea serrulata etc., 3. those occurring also 

 in other countries far removed from the Australian Alps, e. g., Her- 

 polirion novae-zealandiae, Aster celmisia, Lomoria alpina etc., which 

 occur in Tasmania and New Zealand, while others have strong 

 aifinities with species growing in the South American Andes. 



The last of those three points only is of importance to the problem. 

 How is it possible that certain species or their nearest allies are re- 

 presented In different parts of the world separated by a large expanse 

 of ocean? 



During the glacial epoch the same flora, which to day inhabits the 

 Alps, existed on the tract of land stretching from the Alps to the 

 South. 



The extreme li mit of the drift ice today in the southern ocean lies 

 at about 50° S. lat. ; an advance öS a few degrees must have brought it 

 in contact with the southern shore of Australia and New Zealand 

 whereby seeds of plants, carried by heavy storms from So u th America 

 in a southerly direction to Antarctic glaciers could subsequently have 

 been transported by the Antarctic drift ice eastward, and on arrival in 

 Australia, have found the same climatic conditions as in the country 

 from which they came. The occurrence of certain species which are 

 common to most of the southern Islands of the Pacific, New Zea- 

 land, and the southern part of Australia, shews that the trend of 

 this drift must have passed through these parts. How can the close 

 relationship of Gaultiera, Colobanthus, Caltha, Claytonia, Oreomyrrhis, 

 Azorella etc., with South American forms be otherwise explained? 

 On the retreat of the glacial period the plants to the north and north- 

 west of the Alps could regain their lost footing in the south and would 

 there compete with the invader from the east, which latter would be driven, 

 as the result of the struggle and the change of climate, to alpine regions, 

 where we today find them, and where alone they could find the cooler 

 conditions which they need. 



The Antarctic region had, perhaps, in Miocene times a climate sui- 

 table for higher plant-life; and if so, South America, from its more 

 Savourable geographica! position, would have been more easily peopled 

 with the Antarctic flora than Australia, so that its flora should be 

 more allied to that of the Antarctic than is the A us tra 1 i an flora; hence 

 also the latter has probably not been directly influenced by the Antarctic 

 flora, but the glacial period has been the main factor in that connection. 



W. C. Worsdell. 



