G. M. Tuomson.—On the Origin of the New Zealand Flora, 485 
Art, LXXVII.—On the Origin of the New Zealand Flora—being a Presi- 
dential Address to the Otago Institute. By Gro. M. Tomson, F.L.S. 
[Read before the Otago Institute, 31st January, 1881.] 
Auoye the many questions of interest which offer themselves for solution 
to the botanist, none possess more fascination than those dealing with the 
geographical distribution of plants ; and if this is so in other parts of the 
world it is doubly so in New Zealand, where the existing conditions are 
almost unique. The present distribution of our flora leads up to a wider 
and far more interesting question, viz., its origin, and the investigation of 
this brings under review many collateral subjects, among which may be 
considered the former land connections existing between what is now New 
Zealand and other parts of the world. 
The main question cannot be considered alone, but must be taken in 
conjunction with the origin and distribution of our fauna, and with the great 
geological changes which have been effected in past times, and which have 
brought about in our time a distribution of land and water very different 
from that which existed at the end of the Secondary or commencement of 
the Tertiary period. 
But it would be almost impossible in the limits of a single address to 
discuss the subject in all its aspects, and I shall therefore confine myself to 
asmall portion only of it, stating in the first place what has been wrrtten 
on this topic, and then pointing out some of the et facts which an 
eXamination of it reveals. 
_ Every naturalist who has visited New Zealand has had his attention 
drawn to the many remarkable features of its fauna and flora, but Sir J oseph 
Hooker, Professor F. W. Hutton, and Mr. Wallace, are the only writers 
whose works I am acquainted with, who have attempted to solve the prob- 
lems presented to them. 
The first-named botanist in the introduction to the “Flora Nove- 
_ 4ealandiw” has summarized the information at his disposal im a masterly 
_ @ssay, which forms the basis of our knowledge as to the distribution of the 
Flora, But he has not sought to trace the origin of our species more 
rectly, confining himself to their affinities and to their occurrence in 
: other countries, but not seeking to eolve the question as to how they have 
op leg etic > het ara 
he “ Handbook” (in 1867), about 200 
to tl Fl while up to date about 
inging ‘he total up to 1,085 species. 
