o28 TRANSACTIONS AND PliOCEEDlNGS OF THE [Sess. Lxvi 



distinctively antarctic types is peculiar. It is suggested 

 that the I'olynesian features have been derived from some 

 Pacific islands which have since been overrun by an 

 Indian vegetation, and Tasmania peopled by New Zealand 

 and antarctic- forms before the Australian vegetation spread 

 over it and replaced them. Such Australian genera as 

 Eriostemon, Kenncdya, Acacia, Le23tosj)ermv,m, Banksia, 

 Didiscus, Goprosma, Leucopogon, Lomatia, Grevillca, Exo- 

 carpos, Casvarina, Araucaria, Microtis, Stypandra, etc., are 

 represented by species in the New Hebrides and New 

 Caledonia. 



The following genera and species occurring in the 

 Australian Alps, some of which are European forms, are 

 represented in the floras of the islands south of New 

 Zealand (Fugean and Kerguelen islands) : — Galtha introloba, 

 Drimyi< aroma/.ica, Gardamine hirsuta, Droscra Arcturi, 

 Stellaria, 'media, Sagina procumhens, Golohanthus suhulatns, 

 Geraninni dissectum. Pelargoniums, Oxalis magellanica, 

 Geum urhannm, Accuna Sanguisorhce, Ejnlohium tdragonvm,, 

 Myriophylliim elatinoidcs, A2yium australe, Oreomyrrhis 

 andicola, Goprosma hirtella, Erechthites, Stellaria radicans, 

 Gentiana montana, Limosella aquatica, Samolus repens, 

 Plantago Broionii, Ghenopodium glaucum, Lomatia ilicij'olia. 

 Fag us Gunnii, Astelia, Juncus hufonius, Orcoholus Pumilio, 

 HicrocMoe redolens, Trisetum subspicatum, and Festuca. 



While the anomalies between the New Zealand and 

 the Australian vegetation are certainly very great, yet 

 there are numerous points of affinity which are all the 

 more remarkable. Among these is the great amount of 

 generic affinity in the three largest orders — Compositse, 

 Orchidese, and Graminea?. Hooker states that of the 

 240 genera of Australian plants common to New Zealand, 

 60 are almost exclusively confined to the two areas, while 

 fully one-quarter of the New Zealand species of Phane- 

 rogams are natives of Australia, 115 being confined to the 

 two countries, and that 20 of these are alpine plants in 

 both countries. The greatest generic affinity exists among 

 the Cryptogams. 



The proportion between the arboreous, semi-arboreous 

 (shrubs), and herbaceous plants, excluding the Graminete 

 and Cryptogams, is as follows : — 168 ; 46 ; 162. 



