250 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 



If, therefore, the aid of cognate sciences, such as chemistry, 

 physics, etc., had been employed by Bentham, Hooker and Ewart, 

 systematic dilemmas such as those given above could hardly have 

 occurred; certainly more satisfactory results would have been 

 obtained than by relying on morphology alone. 



In fact, from what has already been done, even with a limited 

 number of species, by such a combination, sufficient data have been 

 produced to demonstrate that much of, if not all, the uncertainty 

 surrounding the classification of such valuable trees as the Cin- 

 namomums would be removed. 



A research, therefore, on these lines on the whole genus is now 

 a desideratum, not only from a botanical standpoint, but also for 

 a full knowledge of the commercial possibilities of these trees. 

 Anyway, in the Cinnamomums now recorded in this paper Australia 

 could, by a system of cultivation supply her own markets with that 

 useful commodity, camphor — from her own indigenous trees. 



5.— NOTES ON THE TASMANIAN FLORA. 



By L. RODWA Y, Government Botanist of Tasmania. 



The Tasmanian flora is essentially Australian. It would be 

 remarkable were it otherwise. The close proximity to the continent 

 and the certain recent continuity could not have other effect but 

 an extension of the plant life. Yet there are many features to 

 render it most interesting to students of migration, and not the 

 least of these are the presence of vestiges of apparently antarctic, 

 and what may prove to be eastern temperate floras. 



The extreme complexity of distribution must not be overlooked ; 

 we can imagine some of the more recent changes, but beyond that 

 all is dark. We can conjure up a recent land continuity and lines 

 of bird migration transporting seeds, but beyond the data have 

 to be procured from what at present seems a closed book. If we 

 take what is generally admitted to be the last word in flower evolu- 

 tion, the Compositae, we have vestiges of antarctic conditions in 

 Ahrotanella and Pierygopappus and eastern temperate types in 

 Sencio primulcefolius and 5. papillosus. If we take a slightly earlier 

 type the Rubiaceae, we have amongst Coprosmas what appear un- 

 doubtedly eastern species, and the coastal Nertera depressa is 

 common to Tasmania and the western shore of South America. If 

 the distribution of recent forms as in these two famiUes bears 

 witness of complex migration, how can we hope to trace more than 

 the last stage in the movements of such ancient types as the 

 Proteaceae, Cupuliferae and Coniferae ? 



Another feature in the Tasmanian flora is the large proportion 

 of endemics. Nearly a sixth of the flowering plants are endemic. 

 Considering Tasmania is not isolated, but is little more than an 

 extension of south-eastern Australia, this becomes of interest. Cer- 

 tainly many of these are local productions of actively evolving 



