210 



distribution, many being endemic species. The prominent Com- 

 posite genera of South Africa are : — 



Felicia with 45 species. 



Pteronia „ 51 ,, 



Helichrysum ,, 137 „ 



Cirieraria „ 45 „ 



Kleinia (a singular fleshy or succulent genus) with 18 species. 



With the Australian, the Ethiopian shares as being one of 

 the two oldest botanical regions known. The Nearctic Region : 

 within the boundary of this area falls North America. The 

 Compositfe of the latter are divided into two groups, viz. : — 

 1st — United States Sub-Region with 122 genera and 774 sp. 

 2nd— Mexican „ „ „ 246 „ „ 1,-330 „ 



Bentham's arrangement of the Compositte, as represented in 

 the Neotropical Region, is as follows : — 



West Indian Sub-Region — 78 genera and 291 species 



sixteen being endemic genera. 

 Andine ,, ,, 145 genera and 980 species. 



Brazilian ,, ,, 124 ,, ,, 972 ,, 



Chilian ,, „ 116 ,, ,, 602 „ 



In each of these Sub-Regions endemic genera are present. 

 Miitisiacece, a tribe of Composita?, has" about 47 genera (several 

 endemic.) And out of all the Composites found in the Chilian 

 Sub-Region two-thirds are said to belong to this tribe. 



Curt though the remarks so far made on the geographical 

 distribution of the Compositre may be, it is hoped something of 

 interest will have been gained therefrom. The nmnber of genera, 

 and especially of species, enumerated, can only be taken in an 

 approximate sense, as new plants are continually appearing from 

 diffei'ent parts of the world. 



Mr. Hart, who has kindly read this paper for me, places in 

 my hands a more recently proposed arrangement which has come 

 to him from the Royal Gardens, Kew, which will probably in the 

 near future be adopted in referring plants to their geographical 

 areas. I herewith lay it on the table for member>s' inspection. 



ECONOMIC. 



Under this heading are included, not only plants of a useful 

 and medicinal character, but also those which are esteemed from 

 an ornamental and decorative standpoint. For the medicinal 

 and useful purposes the order of Compositse is credited with, the 

 following extracts ai'e taken from well known and reliable 

 authorities :-^" This order " (Grisebach's " Flora of the British 

 West India Islands," ]}. 352) " ati'ords alterative, bitter, or aromatic 

 drugs. Guaco ( Mikania) is a reputed antidote against serpents' 



