350 



OUTLINE OF PLANT GEOGRAPHY 



and 68 genera are common to the two regions, and there are even 

 several identical species. The southern beeches (Nothofagus) 

 have already been mentioned, but there are other more or less 

 familiar genera, like Fuchsia, Geranium, Myosotis, Veronica, Ra- 

 nunculus, etc., as well as others, e. g., Ourisia, Drimys, Pernettya, 

 Libertia, Laurelia, Astelia, Miihlenbeckia, etc. 



So difficult is it to explain the transport of so many forms across 

 the immense stretch of ocean between New Zealand and South 



Fig. 98. — Westland rain-forest, South Island, New Zealand. Photo., 



Dr. L. Cockayne 



America, that one is compelled to assume some former land con- 

 nections, probably via some northern extension of the present 

 antarctic regions. Such fossil evidence as is available shows that 

 some of these common types formerly existed in the Antarctic. 

 Further investigation may show that there was a northward 

 extension of the antarctic regions, with climatic conditions suit- 

 able for vegetation. If further discoveries of fossils should indicate, 

 as in the northern hemisphere, that a uniform vegetation existed 

 in Tertiary time throughout what is now the antarctic regions, 

 it would explain much of the present plant distribution in the 



