20 Transactions. 



Here King says, " On the 27th I discovered a great quantity of plantane 

 trees." The plants referred to by King as plantane-trees are regarded by 

 Maiden as taro. The evidence adduced seems to me quite insufficient to 

 establish the case. Though the taro may now be growing at the spot 

 referred to, yet it also grows so commonly by the sides of streams all over 

 the island that its presence on the stream referred to is certainly insufficient 

 to identify it with the plantane-tree of King's records. Bauer evidently 

 did not regard the taro as indigenous, as it is not included in Endlicher's 

 list ; and it would certainly be strange if it were to be regarded as indigenous 

 in Norfolk Island but not in the surrounding lands and islands — e.g., New 

 Zealand, Kermadecs. As the plant is also referred to by King as the banana, 

 there is still less reason for supposing that the plantane can be the taro. 

 On the other hand, Endlicher regards Musa as indigenous, but not Colo- 

 casia. Now, Musa, though plentiful on the island, is always under cul- 

 tivation, and, so far as I know, shows no tendency to escape therefrom. 

 If King did actually find bananas growing on the island in 1788, it is 

 probable that their presence was due to some chance human introduction 

 by Polynesians or others in the years shortly before his arrival. This, indeed, 

 is the more likely, as King is said to have been of the opinion that the 

 island contained aboriginal inhabitants " from discovering the banana-tree 

 in regular rows." 



COMMELINACEAE, 



71. Commelina cyanea R. Br., M. 127. 



Apparently not found either by Endlicher or Maiden, though recorded 

 by Cunningham. It is not uncommon in watercourses. I certainly would 

 regard it as introduced were it not that it occurs on Phillip Island, which 

 has never been inhabited. It has been seen there both by Cunningham and 

 myself. In any case, I can only regard it as very doubtfully indigenous. 

 It might quite readily have been taken to Phillip Island by the Norfolkers, 

 or the convicts, who frequented it for birds' eggs, or the small seeds may 

 have been carried by natural means from the mainland of Norfolk Island. 

 Still, that it should occur and be able to maintain itself on the arid Phillip 

 Island is undoubtedly in favour of its being indigenous. 



' Lord Howe, New Caledonia, Australia, with closely allied forms in south- 

 eastern Asia. 



Liliaceae. 



72. Rhipogonum dubium Endl., E. 69, M. 121. 



Australia. 



Called "yam-creeper " on the island. Common in the bush. 



73. Ceitonoplesium cymosum A. Cunn., E. 68, M. 122. 



Common in damp bush ; also cultivated in bush houses on the island, 

 Lord Howe, Australia, South Pacific to Borneo. 



74. Cordyline Baueri Hook. f. (= C. obtecta Baker, M. 123; Cordyline 



australis, E. 67.) 



Common in the bush. Endemic, but closely allied to the New Zealand 

 and Australian C. australis. 



75. Cordyline terminalis Kunth. 



The evidence regarding this species is highly conflicting. Maiden 

 and myself only saw it in cultivation at Steel's Point, and the Norfolkers 



