J.D. Hooker, Introductory Essay to the Flora of Tasmania. 311 
long to a non-existing class or even family, or that are ascer- 
tained to be intermediate in affinity between recent classes or 
families,* 
The progress of investigation may ultimately reveal the true 
history of the unrecognized vegetable remains with which our 
collections abound, and may discover to us amongst them new 
and unexpected organisms, suggesting or proving a progressive 
development ; but in the meantime the fact remains that the 
prominent phenomena of vegetable paleontology do not ad- 
vanee us one step towards a satisfactory conception of the first 
ongin of existing natural orders of plants. 
Taking the Conifers for an example, whatever rank is given 
to them by the systematist, that they should have preceded Mo- 
nocotyledons and many Dicotyledons in date of appearance on 
the globe, is a fact quite incompatible with progressive develop- 
ment in the scientitic acceptation of the term, whilst to argue 
from their apparently early appearance that they are low ina 
chssificatory system is begging the question. 
_ Another fact to be borne in mind is, that we have no accurate 
_ Meaof what systematic progression is in botany. e know 
little of high and low in the Vegetable Kingdom further than is 
: mn 
ithe whole Vegetable Kingdom, that no good classification 
even has been founded on these considerations alone.t 
* Tt must not be ir ine this I am even expressing a doubt as 
to there having Solace: bio aden alle between vaaeliteg none sed 
Analogy with i i ests that some at any rate of the 
‘ants of the coal pe ee — Ei ipl tee but should they not do so, I 
b agagl this fact to be of little value in the present inquiry, for I incline to believe 
ascertained geological history of plants embraces a mere 
Y,Nor its importance estimated in inquiries of this nature. 
we may grant the dignity of great superiority or complexity, we find that order 
ate many demrees’ be carte the lassified series 
degrees below them in the classified series, i : 
Teal position is their evident affinity with their complex co-ordinates ; Pa rid 
by a geological or other event, and all clue to the real position - the former 
may be lost. Are such groups of simply-constructed s created by retrogres- 
the r 
sive variation hisherfor did the bigher proceed from them by progressive 
én If the latter, did the simpler forms precede in origin the highest forms 
other groups which rank below them in the classified series ¢ 
