DISTRIBUTION OF EDWARDSIA. 203 
itself is more widespread, occurring, as it does, in many warm 
countries. SS. tetraptera differs from all other members of the genus 
in certain peculiarities of its flower and fruit. It is placed, therefore, 
by those botanists who classify plants, in a special division (sub- 
genus) of the genus Sophora, founded for its reception alone, under 
the name EHdwardsia. Now, it is hard to believe that Hdwardsia did 
not at one time or another during the enormously long life of this 
subgenus, as proved by its wide distribution, live also in other parts 
of the world, but in such has passed away without leaving a trace 
behind. Traces of former wanderings of plants are left sometimes as 
fossils in the rocks, but it is safe to conclude that up to now the 
history of these wanderings as revealed by the fossil record is most 
incomplete. Therefore, who can possibly declare that the present 
distribution of plants in general gives any really reliable evidence 
as to their place of origm? Hdwardsia is usually considered to have 
come from South America to New Zealand, but Cheeseman has boldly 
suggested that the contrary occurred. If, however, its home on 
Lord Howe Island be borne in mind, who can say that it did not 
come thence to New Zealand, and that its real birthplace may have 
been in the Malay Archipelago —the almost certain source of so 
many New Zealand plants ? 
Notwithstanding the difficulties, as shown above, with which 
one is confronted, when considering the origin of any flora it is 
instructive to consider the present distribution and relationships of 
its species. But ft must never be forgotten that when dealing with 
the origin of a flora, examining how the species originated and 
seeking the roads by which they travelled, the results arrived at 
can be a basis for speculation merely. 
Leaving out of consideration the lower plants, and taking into 
account only the seed-plants, the ferns, and the fern-allies, the New 
Zealand species fall into several distinct groups according to their 
origin. 
These groups are here called: (1) Endemic—.e., genera and 
species, or varieties of such, found wild only in New Zealand ; 
(2) Australian—t.e., genera and species found wild in New Zealand 
and Tasmania or Australia (one or both of these countries) ; 
(3) Fuegian—i.e., genera and species found wild in New Zealand 
and subantarctic South America, or the Falkland Islands, the 
Crozet Islands, or Kerguelen Land; (4) Malayan—i.e., genera and 
