G. M. Taomson.—On the Origin of the New Zealand Flora. 493 
ing to a specially South American order, is similarly characterized, but 
its occurrence here has no special significance, as Australia possesses an 
endemic species as well as New Zealand. The genera Epilobium and Par- 
sonsia both have tufts of hair on their seeds to aid in their dispersal; the 
former is a very wide-spread genus in all temperate regions, and some of its 
species are common to both hemispheres; while the latter is an Asiatic and 
Australian genus. The only other contrivances which aid in the wind- 
dispersal of our New Zealand plants are wings on the fruits or seeds. These 
occur, but feebly developed, on the nuts of Fagus, and on the seeds of 
Knightia, Dammara, and Libocedrus. The first of these occurs in both the 
north and south temperate regions; but our and the Australian species are 
all probably of antarctic origin. The second genus has one New Caledonian 
tepresentative, and the third is Australian, Malaysian, and Polynesian in 
its distribution, while Libocedrus is found only in New Zealand and South 
America, 
While special adaptations for wind-distribution are apparently few in 
New Zealand plants (if we except the Composite), there are no doubt many 
2 which are readily blown about by reason of their small size and light- 
hess. I have no data to guide me here, but will instance the order 
Orchidew, all the species of which have minute, light seeds, and all the 
genera of which are either Australian or from further north, or have an 
Australian facies, 
(2.) The second mode of dispersal mentioned is by means of birds, and 
this is accomplished in three ways—‘ either by swallowing fruits and rejéct- 
‘ing the seeds in a state fit for germination, or by the seeds becoming 
attached to the plumage of ground-nesting birds, or to the feet of aquatic 
birds embedded in small quantities of mud or earth.” With regard to the 
first of these modes, it is probable that the bright colours of most succulent 
; _ _ fruits serve to render them conspicuous and attractive to birds, which are 
thus led to swallow them. But most seeds, enclosed in fleshy pulp, are 
oe furnished with a hard shell or test, and most fruit-eating birds have a very 
- Soft gizzard, incapable of grinding-up the food which they eat, and so it 
- happens that these birds become the unconscious means of distributing 
| Peet producing such succulent fruits. I find that altogether some 59 
