XXIV THE TAHITI AN MOUNTAIN FLORA 291 



in the curious observation of Dr. Reinecke in the case of the 

 Samoan pecuHar species. The seeds, he says, appear to germinate 

 by preference on the bark of other trees, young plants growing 

 epiphytically being of frequent occurrence. 



There is some evidence that the species of Weinmannia, about 

 ten in all, found in the tropical islands of the open Pacific are 

 derived from one or two polymorphous species. As we learn from 

 Mr. Cheeseman, the Rarotongan species, W. rarotongensis, has 

 considerable affinity to several closely allied Polynesian species, 

 and its nearest allies are a Fijian and Samoan species, W. vitiensis 

 and W. samoensis. Possibly, he remarks, fuller materials may 

 lead to the union of several of these forms under one species. 



The interesting New Zealand genus Coprosma, which we have 

 noticed in Hawaii, occurs also in the Tahitian region and Fiji ; 

 and it will be further discussed under the last-named locality. 

 The genus Vaccinium has been previously dealt with in Chapter 

 XXIII. 



The Liliaceous genus Astelia may be considered as represent- 

 ing, like Coprosma, the Antarctic or New Zealand flora in the 

 higher levels (usually) of the islands of the tropical Pacific, where it 

 grows both on trees and on the ground. The genus, according to 

 Hemsley, is chiefly at home in New Zealand, but is also found in 

 Fuegia and in South-east Australia. It is represented in Hawaii, 

 Tahiti, Samoa, and Fiji. In Hawaii there are two peculiar species 

 ranging between 2,000 to 6,000 feet in elevation. The solitary 

 Tahitian species, A. nadeaudi, is found in the central mountains of 

 Tahiti, reaching to the crests of Mount Aorai, which attains a 

 height of 6,700 feet. Fiji and Samoa possess a species in common, 

 A. montana, which is only recorded by Seemann, from the summit 

 of Kandavu, 2,750 feet above the sea ; whilst in Samoa it frequents, 

 according to Reinecke, moist coast districts. The fruits of Astelia 

 are berries with crustaceous seeds that would be dispersed by 

 frugivorous birds. 



Amongst the Tahitian mountain-genera that possess species 

 ranging far beyond this region as well as species confined to the 

 group may be mentioned Coriaria and Cyathodes. It is to their 

 non-endemic species that we look for further clues as to the 

 general lines of migration by which the mountain-genera that only 

 possess peculiar species reached this group. The evidence afforded 

 by Coriaria is of some importance. The genus has not been 

 recorded from Hawaii, and, so far as the collections of Seemann 

 and Home show, not from Fiji. It is found in the Mediterranean 



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