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moderate wiiul to cany away the fruits (seeds) of this plant fi-om 

 the original locality in which they grew and matured. Another 

 mode of distribution is by aid of rellexed hooks which some plants 

 possess. When man or beast comes in contact with these, the 

 fruits cling to their bodies and are thus carried from one locality 

 to another. Then again it often happens that seeds are carried 

 from one island to another through the agency of sea-birds, which 

 swallow the seeds, and afterwards deposit them occasionally 

 unharmed, or it may be that man, in his wanderings over the 

 globe, unthinkingly is the medium of distribution, or, again, 

 distriljution may be greatly influenced by river and ocean 

 currents. With the knowledge of these several possibilities 

 and means of ti-ansfer, it is not surprising to find (as 

 oftentimes it does occur), well known European species 

 appearing, for instance, in America, and vice versa. One 

 hundred of the British annuals are supposed to be colonists — 

 introduced — and among these we find at least two Composites, 

 viz,, Galinsoga ijarvijiora, Cav., a native of Chili, etc., which 

 escaped from the Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1850; and Ericjeron 

 canadense, L., a native of our own island, which became intro- 

 duced into England during the present centur3^ And in the 

 West Indies — Jamaica mountains — the following are recorded as 

 being introduced : — Pyretlirum j^arthenium, Sm. ; Lapsana com- 

 timnis, L., and I'araxncum ojficinale, Web. 



Botanically the Earth is divided into six areas or regions. 

 And in these six divisions Compositas alone will be dealt 

 with. First then comes what is known as the Paljearctic, 

 the lai'gest of the six, which includes the whole of Europe etc. ; 

 followed respectively by the Oriental Region, which is smaller in 

 size than the preceding, including India, Southern part of China, 

 Java, etc. ; the Australian Region, comprising Mathin its limits, 

 Australia, New Guinea, etc. ; the Ethiopian Region within which are 

 tropical and South Africa and Madagascar ; the Nearctic Region, 

 includes North America &c., being a sort of extejision of the 

 Pala?arctic Region ; and sixth, the Neotropical Region which em- 

 braces the AVest Indies, and all South America, itc. In the first 

 or, Palteai'ctic Area, t^\'t^ tribes of Composita^ have theii' 

 head-quarters — Cynaruidem and Anthemideoe. Many species of 

 the genus Bhtniea — about 30 — are endemic u\ the Oriental 

 Region, or, in other woi'ds, peculiar to that area. One of the 

 oldest botanical regioiis known is the Australian. Here we find 

 39 endemic genera of the Compositie. The Australian flora has 

 a remarkable attiiiit}' to tliat of the Cape, and among many other 

 oi-ders in this respect that of the Compositje is no exception ; the 

 genus Helichrysian is a striking example. The Ethiopian Region 

 includes the Cape area where the fi<ira assumes a ^ery local 



