NOTES ON" THE TASMANIAN FLORA- 253 



Oxalis ynagcUanica, Accena, Donatia, Azorella, Perenettya, Lomatia, 

 Drapetes. Dacrydimn, Fitzroya, Gaimardia, Astelia, Oreoholus and 

 Uncinia, all characteristic of South America flora, appears suggestive 

 of a closer affinity than the present wide separation should warrant. 



The Erica family is represented by one Pernettya and three 

 Gaultherias, and may be considered a remnant of a large group that 

 has been replaced by the more recent Epacrids. Or the existing 

 members may be looked upon as a small group that migrated west- 

 ward from South America or intervening land. Pernettya tas- 

 manica is endemic, and there is one endemic species in New Zealand, 

 otherwise the genus is entirely American. Gaultheria has a wider 

 distribution, but is largely American. Of the three Tasmanian forms 

 G. hispida, which extends from mountain tops to sea level, is also 

 found in Australia, but only at a high elevation. G. lanceolata is 

 only a local variety of this, while G. antipoda is common to Tasmania 

 and New Zealand. In Tasmania it is a rare mountain trailing shrub, 

 but it is far more common and variable in New Zealand, where 

 there are also four more of the genus all endemic. 



Tasmania is very rich in Epacrids, possessing sixty-one species 

 belonging to sixteen genera. Thirty-four of these species are 

 endemic. Prionotes is singular in habit, trailing amongst under- 

 growth it will, if it meets with a suitable Eucalypt, grow up the 

 stem in the fibrous bark for a height of even a hundred feet, hanging 

 out short branches bearing bright crimson flowers as it travels. 

 There is a doubtful species of Prionotes in South America, otherwise 

 the genus is confined to Tasmania. 



The genus Richea contains eight species, seven of which are 

 endemic in Tasmania, the other one also appearing in the Aus- 

 tralian Alps. It is an offshoot of Draco phyllum, and may be looked 

 upon as a local development. R. Milligani, which does not throw 

 off its corolla but splits it irregularly, is almost an intermediate form 

 between the genera. Richea pandanifolia and Dracophyllum milli- 

 gani are of identical habit and almost indistinguishable when the 

 flowers are absent. They have a singular habit, erect, unbranched, 

 with a head of long swordlike leaves more like a Cordyline than a 

 Heath. Dracophyllum minimum is a dwarf, forming dense cushions 

 in mountain plateaux. It is interesting that this Epacrid, Abrota- 

 nella forcsterioides, a composite, and Donatia novce-zelandice , a mem- 

 ber of the Styhdeae, are so alike in habit and foliage that they appear 

 identical until found in flower. It is an interesting similar adapta- 

 tion in three distinct lines. 



The endemic Coprosma Moorei is one of the few members of the 

 genus that bears a blue fruit. It departs from the generic type by 

 the flowers being bisexual. But for its well developed calyx, it 

 might be placed in Nertera. 



Hewardia tasmanica is generally included in the lilies, but it 

 has all the characters of habit and flower structure with the typical 

 three extrorse anthers of the Iris family, except in the one feature, 

 that the ovary is superior or nearly so. It does not appear to be a 

 true link between the families, a vestige of the line of descent, but 



