326 TltANSACTlONS AND PKOCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. Lxvii. 



Analysing the orders richest in species in relation to 

 other floras, or comparing the relative magnitudes of the 

 nine largest orders, we get the following : — 



Leguniinosffi has most species in S.E., next in S.W. of Australia, least in tropics, 



' Rutaceaj, after Australia, abounds most in India. 



In his introductory essay to the " Flora of Tasmania," 

 Sir J. D. Hooker remarks that the chief peculiarities of the 

 Australian flora, as a whole, are, that it contains more 

 genera and species peculiar to its own area, and fewer 

 plants belonging to other parts of the world, than any 

 other country of equal extent ; about two-fifths of its 

 genera, and upwards of seven-eighths of its species, are 

 entirely confined to Australia ; that many of the plants 

 have a very peculiar habit of physiognomy, giving in some 

 cases a character to the forest scenery, as Eucalypti, 

 Acacise, Proteacese, Casuarineae, Conifene ; are themselves 

 of anomalous or grotesque appearance, as Xanthorrhoea, 

 Casuarina, Banksia, etc. 



Many genera and species display singular peculiarities, 



