32 SPECIMENS OP PLANTS COLLECTED AT KING GEORGE's SOUND, 



(e) Dracophyllum capitatum, R.Br., occurs only in W. Aus- 

 tralia, to which may be added D. aquarrosum, R.Br., D. 

 Drummondii, Benth., D. phlogiflorum, F.v.M., D. gracUe, 

 R.Br., and D. parvijlorum, F.v.M. Two species are 

 indigenous in Tasmania, one in Queensland, and one [D. 

 Fitzgeraldi, F.v.M.) in Lord Howe's Island. 



(16) Conostylis setigera, R.Br., belongs to a genus having 32 

 species, all peculiar to W. Australia. It is worthy of notice that 

 the only species of Hsemodoracese in N. S. Wales are H(em,odorum 

 planifolium, R.Br., and H. teretifolium, R.Br. 



(17) Xerotes micrantha, Endl., is a species found in S. and W. 

 Australia, Victoria, and N. S. Wales. The genus comprises 32 

 species, of which 19 aie limited to W. Australia and 11 occur in N. 

 S. Wales. The only Xerotes found out of Australia is one in 

 New Caledonia. 



It is remarkable, on looking over a few specimens gathered 

 promiscuously at King George's Sound, that Pelargonium Rodney- 

 anum, Vicia angustifolia, Helichrysum, bracteatuni, and Xerotes 

 micrantha are the only species found on the eastera part of the 

 continent, and of these one is probably of African and the other 

 of European origin. The rest of the species stand, as it were, 

 isolated, and illustrate the I'emark of Sir J. D. Hooker that, in 

 reference to the flora of Australia, " there is a greater specific 

 difference between two quarters of Australia (South-eastern and 

 South-western) than between Australia and the rest of the globe ; 

 and that the most marked characteristics of the flora are concen- 

 trated at that point which is geographically most remote from any 

 other region of the globe." Western Australia is rich in the 

 number of its species. Baion Mueller reckons 3560, and of these 

 the great majority are "purely Australian, without any admixture 

 of any other element," whilst in the eastern colonies the number 

 of such plants is proportionately less. It appears, therefore, that 

 in Western Ausfcralia the flora of the continent had its origin, 

 and that whilst certain species have migrated to the east, they 

 have become associated with those from other parts. Why so few 



