2TG 



be found on un-stoeked islands, or in places inaccessible to 



sheep. 



Veronica eUiptica, the largest land plant of the Falklands, 

 commonly accompanies and may replace the tussock-grass. 



An analysis of the Falkland flora gives the following results : 



Group 1. — South Patagonian and Fuegian Element. This is 

 by far the largest group, containing 133 species, or 824 per cent, 

 of the flora. Although many of the species are confined to sub- 

 antarctic South America, others have a wider distribution. 



Group 11. — Warm-Temperate element. This is composed of 

 14 species (8-6 per cent, of the flora), also found in Chile and the 

 warmer parts of South America, and one in the North Temperate 



regions. 



Group 111. — Endemic Element. Composed of 15 species (9*3 j 



per cent of the flora). 



Hooker knew that most of the Falkland plants point to a 

 Magellanic origin for the flora. Amongst the 82 per cent, of 

 more or less common Magellanic plants there are a number of i 



forest species, while the steppe element is not especially pro- j 



nounced. The periodicity is much less marked in the Falklands, | 



and a number of species from the rainy, evergreen forests there- 

 fore occur. The probable history of the flora may be summarised 

 $s follows : — ! 



1. During the Tertiary Epoch the Falklands were raised above J 

 their present level, and the elevation may have been sufficient to j 

 establish a land connection with South America, even if of short 

 duration. 



2. Before the Ice Age coniferous forests of Chilean type existed 



in the islands, as is shown by the remains of fossil trees of a species I 



of Poclocarpus and Libocedrus, probably P. salignus and L. v . 



chilensis, on West Point island. Large areas, however, were ' 



probably even then inhabited by oceanic heath or meadow. 



3. Judging from the present distribution of the above conifers 

 the climate was warmer, but not necessarily drier, than now. 



4. With the deterioration of the aliniate which culminated in 

 the Ice Age, the forests disappeared and the tundra-like forma- 

 tion became predominant. 



5. The Falklands were never glaciated, but the Ice Age was 

 represented by the period of semi-fluid moving soil. During 

 this time a large number of species may have survived. 



6. In post-glacial times many species have probably 



immigrated from the west. 



7. The warm-temperate element in the flora did not survive 

 the period of semi-fluid soil, but immigrated in post-glacial times. 



This element may have come directly from its present habitat or, i 



more probably, by way of Fuegia, which it may be a-umed has 

 undergone post-glacial changes, permitting a number of 

 temperate species to extend their boundaries to the south. 



warm 



South Georgia. (1, 5, 10, 14.) 



South Georgia is an isolated, mountainous island lying in the 

 southern part of the Atlantic Ocean and within the limits of the 

 drift of Antarctic icebergs. The island gives a strong impression 





