BOTANIC EVIDENCE IN FAVOUR OF LAND 

 CONNECTION BETWEEN FUEGIA AND TAS- 

 MANIA DURING THE PRESENT FLORISTIC 

 EPOCH. 



By L. Rodway. * 



Tasmania is rich in plant vestiges, that is, in the presence 

 of isolated species or small groups which appear to be the 

 last remnants of various migrants or passed floras, and 

 it is an interesting speculation whence came those forms 

 and what topographical conditions of past ages they may 

 indicate. The only part of this histoiy that has received 

 any attention up to the present is that which appears to 

 give weight to the theory of continuity of land between 

 Tasmania and Fuegia, by way of antaixtic or subantarctic 

 regions, during comparatively recent times. 



In some plant groups there is close affinity between the 

 floras of temperate South America and Tasmania. 

 .» ertera dejrream extends from Tasmania to New Zealand, 

 the islands of the Southern Pacific, South America and 

 Tristan d'Acunha. The fruit is fleshy and contains thick- 

 walled pyrenes capable of resisting digestion for a consider- 

 able period, and may, therefore, have been widely dis- 

 tributed by migrating birds. Arcena has a similarly wide 

 distribution, but there, again, the dry burr fruits would 

 favour a similar transportation. Conifers throw little 

 light on the subject. The genus Fitzroya consists of two 

 species, one in Tasmania the other in South America, but 

 the ancient vestiges in this group give a hint of migration 

 too profound for our present purpose. The Prni'^acece give 

 but little evidence, as they appear to have migrated from 

 an equatorial centre, the sub-family Nurninentacece passing 

 to South Africa and Australia, Foil /nila res and Emhotriece 

 to Australia and South America. Of the numerous genera 

 in the family only one, Lomatia, is common to Australia 

 and South America. 



It is possible that a study of freshwater Algce, 

 especially Deamtch, would give valuable evidence, but, 

 unfortunately, the study of botany has been so poorly 

 supported with us that these important forms have been 

 entirely neglected. 



The only plants which appear to give any weighty 

 information are those belonging to the genus Fagtix, 



*A summary of remarks made at a meeting of the Society on 15th June, 1014. 

 during a discussion of the s\ipposed former land-connection of Australasia and 

 South America with Antarctica. 



