39 



glinting red through the dark green foliage, a fortunate fact, deciding the 

 genus of a very prevalent species of conifer, of which it was certain that the 

 abundant seedlings in various growth-forms could only represent a new 

 Dacrydium sp., but the search for fruiting specimens at lower altitudes 

 proved unsuccessful. 



In reference to this exposed lichen-covered plateau a quotation from 

 Lorenz (22, viii. (1909) 178) in "Nova Guinea" suggests the presence of a 

 similar association on the Charles Louis Mountains, while Mr. Stroeve of the 

 Dutch Navy, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at Manokoeari after my 

 return from the Arfak, described what seemed a very similar formation as 

 occurring on the mountains to the south of Geelvink Bay at about the same 

 altitude, where not only the practice of burning obtains but potatoes are also 

 grown. I heard later with great regret of the untimely fate of this promising 

 young officer, who, after most successful exploration and surveying work 

 on the Ruffaier River, was treacherously shot by arrow by Papuans on the 

 Waroza River, near the coast to the east of Geelvink Bay (26, 782). 



PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL CONCLUSIONS. 



These may be summarized as follows : 



(1) New Guinea, the centre of distribution for many so-called 



Polynesian, Australian, and to a lesser extent Malayan types, of 

 which the Papuan species are not only older in type, but also 

 show extraordinarily pronounced specific differentiation. 



(2) Wide distribution in New Guinea of endemic Mountain types. 



(3) Low Mountain Forest formation approximates to the Ridge forma- 



tion of Mt. Kinabalu and the Philippines. 



(4) Mountain Forest Flora of the Arfak Mountains possibly represents 



the oldest Papuan type. 



(5) Pteridophytic and Bryophytic Floras are more Polynesian than 



Malayan in incidence and luxuriance. 



(6) Open " Opportunity " Plant Associations offer further proof of the 



autochthonous character of the Papuan Flora. 



1. NEW GUINEA THE CENTRE OF DISTRIBUTION FOR MANY SO-CALLED 



MALAYAN, POLYNESIAN, AND AUSTRALIAN TYPES. 

 Evidence of New Guinea as the centre of distribution for many plant- 

 types, so far considered Polynesian or Australian, has been strikingly 

 confirmed on the present occasion. Emphasized by the well-known botanists 

 who have worked out the results, such evidence has been a marked feature 

 of recent Dutch and German exploration, and was also shown in Kloss's 

 Mt. Oartensz collections 1 . 



1 Ridley, II. N., " Report on the Botany of the Wollaston Expedition to Dutch New 

 Guinea," Trans. Linn. Soc., ser. 2, Bot. ix. (1916) 1-269, pis. i.-vi. 



