254 D. Prain— r^e non-indigenous species of the Andaman Flora. [No. 3, 



Table I. Intrusion of non-indigenous Andamans plants. 



Non-indigenous species : — 



I . I 



Introduced intentionally : — Introduced unintentionally : — 



t I 



i I I I 



Prior to 1886 :— During 1886-90 :— Prior to 1886 :— During 1886-90. 



I I 



Natura- Natura- 

 lised lised Naturalised | Seen in 1889 Seen in 1889 



in 1866 :— in 1890:— in 1890 :— Seen in 1866 :— or 1890 :— or 1890 ; 



[(15-1) + 14] 



(61-3) 



15. 28. 9. 61. 58. 56. 



Total for 1866. 15 + 61 = 76. 



Totalfor period 1866-90. 14+ 9 + 56 = 79. 

 Total for 1890. 28+9 + 58 + 56 = 151. 



During his stay in the Andamans in 1866 Mr. Knrz observed 620 

 indigenous species. But he has pointed out {Report, p. 19) that this 

 *' is only an approximation to the actual number existing on the is- 

 " lands." Since 1866 the number of indigenous species has been raised 

 to about 600. Mr. Kurz has recorded the number of species found 

 growing on 100 square yards in a suitable locality in the interior on the 

 eastern side of the island and not far from Aberdeen. He shews 

 {Report, p. 21) that an estimate based on this record and extended to 

 the rest of the islands of the Andaman group gives scarcely more than 

 600 or 700 species for the whole. At the same time, he thinks that an 

 estimate of the same kind deduced from the conditions that prevail on 

 the western side of the island would give quite other results, and, taking 

 everything into consideration, he concludes that " the number of really 

 " indigenous phaenogamic plants may range between 1500 and 1800 

 " species." In all probability the second estimate is too high and per- 

 haps a number nearer 1000 will be ultimately found to express the 

 actual total of indigenous phanerogams. But the question need not be 

 discussed here, and if in the meantime absolute records of the appear- 

 ance of non-indigenous species be supplied, the precise proportion of 

 introduced to indigenous species at various periods in the history of the 

 islands can easily be ascertained when their flora shall have been com- 

 pletely investigated. 



