-= 120 — 



The only other Dicotyledonous plant observed by us was a 

 small tree about 12 feet in height something resembling the 

 Mauritian Genus JBlacl-ivelUa belonging to the Homalineae, 

 but which Mr. Home cannot trace to aay known species. 



We saw no signs of the '' Yeloutiers" Tournefortia argentea 

 L. mentioned I think both by Colonel Lloyd and by Colonel 

 Pike, though tbere seems a strong presumption in favor of 

 their having existed, seeing that according to Bojer one of 

 the commonest kinds here Sccevola Plumierii is known as 

 " Veloutier de I'lle Plate." 



Having thus completed a description of the scanty Flora of 

 Eound Island, I must at once guard against a most incorrect 

 idea as to the general character of its vegetation which might 

 be drawn from the bare enumeration of genera and species, 

 by pointing out that if the number of individuals be taken 

 into account, the Exogens are totally overwhelmed by the 

 Endogenous plants. 



Among the trees especially, the Yacoas and Palms cannot 

 bear a less proportion than 99 per cent ; the belt of Hard- 

 wood Timber spoken of b_y Colonel Lloyd being confined to 

 the central ridge of the submit and consisting of so few trees 

 that it actually escaped the researches of Colonel Pike on his 

 first visit. The presence of that narrow belt of trees, with 

 analogies and the discrepancies which they present when 

 compared with those of the adjacent main island, is certainly 

 one of the most puzzling problems presented by this curious 

 little islet. More so even it strikes me than the almost inva- 

 riable specific difference in the monocotyledonous plants. 



Taken as a whole its Plora is no doubt essentially Masca- 

 rene, nay, even Mauritian, so far as genera are concerned, 

 but the species both in Endogens and Exogens are frequently 

 peculiar and, as may be gathered from Mr. Home's remarks* 

 even when in all probability identical, varying more or less 

 from the typical Mauritian standard. 



All this proves on any hypothesis that could be framed, a 

 long continued period of separation from the main island ; or 

 rather, I would venture to suggest, denotes the Flora of the 

 little group, Bound Island, Serpents Island, Flat and Gabriel 



