158 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY 
present vegetation. The present area of 27,000 sq. mi. seems to have been 
much reduced during the latest glacial period, subsequent to its separation from 
Australia, now 184 miles distant. Its bin dee sree that period consisted 
probably of moss and low shrubs only. A ion comes from 
the dissection of one huge plateau, there are within the idland no important 
barriers to migration, and the elevations do not exceed 5000 ft. The annual 
rainfall varies soe 112 to 165 inches, while high winds are incessant upon the 
more elevated portions. 
The ere te forests of the lowlands, the mixed forest of the west coast, 
and the vegetation of the tablelands and mountains constitute the three main 
plant formations of the island. These formations with their main subdivisions 
are briefly characterized, but only the higher elevations are considered in 
detail, and their vegetation is regarded as austral-montane rather than alpine. 
The higher plateaus range from 3560 to 4000 ft. in altitude, with a few rock 
masses higher. There are no glaciers or permanent snow fields, although 
during the winter months the mountains are often snow-covered, and this, 
is shrubby and spreading in habit, with small coriaceous leaves, and almost 
wholly without herbaceous forms except on the highest peak, where the snow 
remains late in the season. There a mosaic of low mosslike plants is developed, 
the individuals often taking the form of cushions. 
rub associations dominate the more exposed plateau summits. Here 
the vegetation reaches a height of 1-1.5 m., and is decidedly xerophytic in 
aspect, showing rigid branching, small evergreen leaves, and often terminal 
flower clusters. These shrub associations vary from a very scattered display 
upon broken rock to dense masses with a well developed undergrowth where 
soil conditions are more favorable. Usually there is no massing of a single 
species, but several mingle freely. In one situation the endemic M icrocachrys 
type of which consisted of trees like Phyllocladus aspleniifolius, Arthrotaxts 
selaginoides, A. laxifolia, and Atherosperma crowded together with shrubby 
iselma, Orites Milligani, Fagus Gunnii, Drimys aromatica, Telopea, Tetra- 
carpaea, and Richea pandanifolia, all about 2 m. in height. In more sheltered 
situations these forests reach a height of 3-5 mi., and may pass to Eucalyptus 
scrub. 
The conditions of low temperature, intense illumination, with high winds 
and heavy rainfall, here limited to high altitudes, in the antarctic region are 
found at sea level and result in similar vegetation; hence it is not inappropriate 
to apply the term “antarctic” to this montane flora. The practical absence 
of annual leaf fall, and the entire absence of leguminous plants which act as 
