FLORA OF THE GROIIP. 191 



Sources. 



Of the movement of ocean currents and their effect as transi)orting agents, 

 we know but little. Without doubt some plants are transported in this way. 

 As is well known the existing currents in the North Pacitic move in a direction 

 that carries them toward the equator from along the shores of the colder Ameri- 

 can continent. Although Hawaii is in the direct path of this cui-rent, few 

 indeed have been the representatives of the North American tiora that have 

 been brought to the islands. However, we are not sure that the currents have 

 always had their present motion or direction. It is possible that in by-gone 

 ages, long ago, the movement of the currents of the Pacific may have been re- 

 versed, so that various plants from the Australian, Polynesian and South Ameri- 

 can regions that are well known here, might have been carried to the islands by 

 them, in one w^ay or another. 



Number of Genera and Species. 



The abilit}' of birds to make long and direct flights is elsewhere referred to 

 and without doubt they have been able to bring a small per cent of the total 

 plant population of the islands. But be that as it may we find the flora of 

 Hawaii remarkable in that, in proportion to the entire number of plants, it has 

 more species that are peculiar to the group than are to be found in any other 

 region of the same area in the world. If we take the total number of plants, 

 including those which have been introduced and have become generally natural- 

 ized since the coming of Captain Cook, and include those undoubtedly intro- 

 duced by the Hawaiians themselves, we have a grand total, for the native and 

 introduced flora, of approximately a thousand species of flowering plants and a 

 trifle over one hundred and fifty species of cryptogamic or spore-bearing 

 plants, making a list, including recent species, of perhaps twelve hundred in 

 all. These are divided by Dr. Hillebrand into three hundred and sixty-five 

 genera, of which three hundred and thirty-five are flowering plants and thirty 

 are cryptogams. It should be remembered of course that this number is being 

 added to and altered and rearranged from time to time, through contiiuied re- 

 search. It is, however, sufficiently accurate to indicate the character of the 

 flora. 



Endemic and Introduced Plants. 



If Ave exclude from the total list as above given those known to have been 

 introduced by the Hawaiians and Europeans we find over eight hundred and 



(Description of Plate Continued from Opposite Page.) 



in a rain forest. In the Lauhala tree (Pandaniis odoratissinnis) is a bird's nest fern [Ekalia] 

 {Asphnium nidus) in its natural habitat. The Ohia (Mctrosideros polymorpha) trees in the 

 background are overrun with leie (Freycinetia Arnotti) while in the forefjround several genera 

 of ferns can be recognized among them Sadlcria, Cibotium, AspJeuhnn. Aspiditim, and the like. 

 3. A famous tree fern [Heii] (Cihotiuni Moizicsii) surrounded by a jungle of SadUria, 

 Aspidium and other genera of ferns which abound in the moist woods of Hawaii. 4. Wild 

 Bananas [Maia] (Musa sapirntum) and cultivatod Coffoe {Coffca Arabica) growing in a 

 forest clearing. 



