1054 NOTES ON THE RUTACE^E OF THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS, 



has also a wide altitudinal range over the Australian Alps, as from 

 1,000 feet in the Dargo Valley, Victoria, to the summit of Mount 

 Kosciusko in New South Vv 7 ales at elevations of 7,000 feet. From 

 careful comparison of specimens obtained at different elevations 

 and stations, as well as on different geological formations, I am 

 inclined to agree with Baron von Mueller, that forms which have 

 been ranked by other authorities as distinct species — as the B. 

 anemonifolia of Bentham — have not sufficient claim to specific 

 rank, being only differentiated forms of well-marked varieties. 

 The division of the leaves into pinnse in some forms, and the 

 pubescence of others are not constant characters. And here I may 

 be permitted to state that the result of my studies on the plants 

 of the Australian Alps (and which I hope to be able to publish in 

 extenso on some future occasion), harmonises strongly with the 

 view " that existing species have arisen through the variation of 

 pre-existing ones, and the destruction of intermediate varieties." (3) 

 The geological features lend additional strength to this view. And 

 as remarked by the illustrious author of ' The Flora of Australia.' 

 " If all these attributes of organic life which are involved in the 

 study, classification, representation, and distribution, and which are 

 barren facts under the theory of special creations, may receive a 

 rational explanation under another theory, it is to this latter that 

 the naturalist should look for the means of penetrating the mystery 

 which envelopes the history of species, holding himself ready to lay 

 it down when it shall prove as useless for the further advance of 

 science, as the long serviceable theory of special creations, founded 

 on genetic resemblance, now appears to me to be." 



Eriostemon. 



This is a somewhat perplexing, and certainly^very variable genus, 

 in which Baron Mueller includes many species classed by 

 Bentham under several genera in the 'Flora.' 1 incline to the Baron's 

 classification, because the species occurring in the Australian Alps 



(3) J. D. Hooker, Flora of Australia, p. 25. 



