Vol. I] STEWART— BOTANY OF COCOS ISLAND 383 



connection between the two groups of islands should have left 

 a much larger number of species common to the two than is 

 actually found. 



The flora of Cocos, like that of the Galapagos Islands, is 

 distinctly that of an oceanic island. The relatively large num- 

 ber of ferns, the much smaller number of species in the 

 remaining families, and the total number of species found on 

 the island lend support to this view. The flora is probably of 

 much more recent origin than is that of the Galapagos Islands. 

 While the island lies nearer to the mainland by nearly three 

 hundred miles, where presumably the various agents that dis- 

 seminate seeds would work to at least as good advantage as in 

 the Galapagos Islands, yet the number of species represented 

 is probably not more than one-sixth as great. It seems pos- 

 sible that the time that has elapsed since conditions on the 

 island were suitable for the growth of higher vegetation has 

 not been sufficient to stock the island by the slow process of 

 seed dissemination, over considerable areas of water, with as 

 many species as it is capable of supporting. The small number 

 of endemic species on the island might also point to a relatively 

 recent origin of its flora. 



The following are the species collected on the island by the 

 author : 



FILICES 

 Acrostichum L. 



A. aureum L. Sp. PI. 1069 (1753) : very abundant along 

 the stream leading into Wafer Bay and on the hillsides up to 

 125 ft. It grows in large bunches 6-8 ft. high and with 30 or 

 more fronds to a bunch, (No. 225). Further distr. general in 

 tropical regions. 



Adiantum L. 



A. petiolatum Desv. Berl. Mag. V. 326 (1811) : in crevices 

 or rocks on the banks of the stream leading into Wafer Bay, 

 (No. 226). Further distr. Mex., W. Ind., S. Am. 



Alsophila R. Br. 



A. armata (Sw.) Pr. Tent. 62 (1836). Poly podium arma- 

 tum Sw. Prod. 134 (1788) : very abundant on the banks of 



