XEW COLONIAL FLORAS. 



51 



than 150 out of tlie 3055 flowering plants ; a very small proportion 

 considering how long the Islands have been not only colonised, but 

 under cultivation, and how extensive and of how long duration the 

 intercourse between these Islands and both Europe and Africa has 

 been. If we arrange these under the Continents to which they 

 are severally indigenous, another remarkable fact appears, viz., that 

 the numbers contributed by each Continent are almost exactly in an 

 inverse ratio to what would a jyriori have been assumed. They are 

 as foUows : — 



African 

 American 

 European 

 Asiatic 



13 species. 

 17 „ 

 31 „ 



85 



Over and above these, there are some 250 species which are common 

 to the three tropical Continents of America, Africa, and Asia, and 

 some of which may have been introduced, but being chiefly littoral 

 plants, or annual weeds, that have with equal probability been diff'used 

 by natural agencies over them all, they have been regarded as indi- 

 genous in all. With these we have here nothing to do at present. 



To begin with the African species, the most important are those 

 which have been introduced for food or commercial purposes. 

 They are 



Coflee 



Oil-Palm 



Tamarind 



Akee .... 



Grroundnuts . 



Calabash, or American nutmeg 



Henna 



The others are an Aloe, Capparis, Cassia, TepTirosia, and two species 

 of Acacia. 



The American naturalised plants of Economic value are 

 Cherimolia . . . Anona Cherimolia. 



Coffea Arabica. 

 Elaeis Guineensis. 

 Tamarindus Indica.* 

 Blighia sapida. 

 Arachis hypogsea. 

 Monodora Myristica. 

 Lawsonia inermis. 



Tobacco 

 Sweet potato 

 Coco-nut 

 Maize . 

 Pine Apple 



Nicotiana Tabacum. 

 Ipomea Batatas. 

 Cocos nucifera. 

 Zea Mays. 



Aoanassa sativa. 



* Which is indigenous nowhere in Asia. 



E 2 



