279 



J 



There is very close affinity between the Antarctic liclien-flora 

 on the one hand and the American and New Zealand on the other 

 hand. South Georgia may be regarded as a half-way house 

 on the road from Subantarctic America to the true Antarctic 

 continent. Practically half the Antarctic species are common 

 also to the Arctic. 



For the Algae Skottsberg (8) has given a systematic list, with 

 many valuable notes, of the Phaeophyccae of the Antarctic 

 ocean. 53 species are recorded, of which 16 are new, as are eight 

 genera and one family. There is an excellent account of the 

 morphology, anatomy, taxonomy and geographical distribution 

 of Macrocystis pyrifera. Foslie (7) has dealt with the Antarctic 

 and Subantarctic Corallinaceae, enumerating 13 species, three 

 being new. Litliothamnion and Lithophyllurn are the most 

 abundant genera. The calcareous algae are widely dispersed in 

 the true Antarctic regions, and in some localities'occur in con- 

 siderable numbers of individuals. 



Skottsberg has undoubtedly added valuable confirmation to 

 the position taken up by Hooker in the introductory essay to the 

 " Flora Antarctica.' 1 The southern part of the American con- 

 tinent is the headquarters of a botanical region whose flora is still 

 found in isolated groups of islands extending 5000 miles to the 

 east, some being nearer to the African and Australian continents 

 than to the American. The existence must be accepted of an old 

 Antarctic or Subantarctic Flora, at one time more continuous, or 

 at least with its now separate parts having had a common origin. 

 In reading Skottsberg's works one is impressed by the effect 

 which the last Ice Age or series of Ice Ages had on the vegeta- 

 tion. The north and south direction of the Andes allowed the 

 southern flora to retreat northwards in South America, and to 

 return again when better conditions prevailed. A comparison 

 between the flora of South Georgia which was, at least once, 

 completely glaciated and that of Eerguelen, which was never 

 completely glaciated, is most instructive in this connection. 



The division of Fuegia and Patagonia into clear botanical 

 provinces and zones is a noteworthy addition to geographical 

 botany. Finally, the careful records of the vegetation of Juan 

 Fernandez, the Falklands, and South Georgia, as it is at the 

 present time is more especially important because colonisation is 

 rapidly altering the floral facies of the islands, both by the 

 destruction of native plants and by the introduction of exotic 



species, 



XIX.— THE BOTANIC GARDEN OF 



PAMPLEMOUSSES. 



(With Plates.) 



An interesting historv of the Botanic Garden of Paniple- 

 niousses, Mauritius, written by Mr. W. Edward Hart, Librarian 

 and Curator of the Institute, was published in French in 

 Mauritius in 1916. AVe are indebted to Mrs. F. B. Durham 

 for the following abridged translation of the more important 



_ ..^^._ 



parts of Mr. Hart's paper. 



