INSULAB FLORAS. 693 



of vegetation. The plants of Swan River present much in common, so far 

 as generic types are concerned, with those of the Cape. 



The characteristic Orders and genera are : Xerotes, Xanthorrhcea, 

 Pterostylis, Casuarinae, Leptoineria, Pimelea, Proteaceas (Banksia, Hakea, 

 Persoonia, Grevillea, Petrophila, Isopogon, Dryandra), Myoporineae,West- 

 ringia, Logania, Mitrasacme, Epacridaceae (Epacris, Leucopogon, Sty- 

 phelia), Stackhousieae, Scaevoleae, Goodenovieae, Stylidiae, Eucalyptus, 

 Melaleuca, Leptospermum, Acacia3 aphyllae, Platylobium, Bossiaea, Dios- 

 meas (Boronia, Zieria), Pittosporeae, Tremandreae, Pleurandra, Hibbertia. 



Predominant trees and shrubs. Three fourths of the forests are com- 

 posed of species of Eucalyptus, the number of which amount to more than 

 a hundred ; some are very lofty. Next to these come Proteaceae, Epa- 

 crideae, Diosmeae, Casuarinae, and Acaciae aphyllae, forming woods and 

 " bush." Also Coniferae, Araucaria excelsa, A. Bidwilli, A. Cunningharnii, 

 A. Cookii, Dacrydium Franklmii, Podocarpus spinulosa. 



Cultivated plants. In the European colonies the cereals, fruits, and 

 vegetables of Europe. (For further information consult the works of 

 Robert Brown, Baron von Miiller, and specially Bentham's ' Flora Austra- 

 liensis.') 



25. New-Zealand Region (Foster's Region). 

 Temperate climate. 



Character. The flora is more nearly related to that of South Chili 

 than to that of Australia. Evergreen forests, lofty Conifers, and Tree 

 Ferns, Cordylines, &c. abound. Tropical forms vanish, or appear but 

 sparingly. Half the genera European. Approximation to Australia 

 (Pimelea, Myoporuni, Epacris, Styphelia, Cassinia, Melaleuca) ; to South 

 Africa (Gnaphalium, Xeranthemum, Tetragonia, Mesenibryauthemum, 

 Oxalis, Restio) ; to the Antarctic region (Mniarum, Fuchsia, Acsena, 

 Drimys). Many Ferns. 



Genera. Phormium, Pennantia, Knightia, Forstera, Griselinia, Meli- 

 cope, Uicera, Plagianthus, Melicytus. 



Characteristic species. Cyathea medullaris, Gleichenia furcata, Dra- 

 caena indivisa, D. australis, Phormium tenax, Areca sapida, Dacrydium 

 taxifolium, Dammara austrahs, Podocarpus Totarra, Knightia excelsa, 

 Avicennia resinifera, Andromeda rupestris, Epacris juniperina, Wein- 

 mannia racemosa, Tetragonia expansa, Fuchsia excorticata, Melaleuca, sp., 

 Dicera dentata, &c. 



Cultivated plants. Arum esculentum, Convolvulus chrysorhizus, Phor- 

 mium tenax, &c. In the European colonies the cereals, fruits, and escu- 

 lents of Central Europe. (Hooker's Flora and Handbook to the Flora 

 of New Zealand constitute the best general works on the Flora of New 

 Zealand.) 



Insular Floras. 



The flora of islands remote from any continent is of peculiar 

 interest where it has not been interfered with by cultivation or 

 other destructive agency. The questions to be solved are : How 

 did the plants now existing on these islands get there ? Were 

 they created in situ, or were they imported ? If so, How, when, 



