STATISTICS OF METASPERMAE. | 757 
The statistics of the species in dominant families may be 
compared with the similar statistics for the total range ele- 
ments. The northernness of the dominant family-element, ex- 
pressed by the figures 54 8 is somewhat less than the northern- 
ness of the total species, expressed by the figures 556. On the 
other hand the southernness of the same element, expressed by 
tke figures 76.6 is slightly in excess of the southernness of the 
total specific group. The dominant family-element is in like 
manner characterised by easternness less than is the total ele- 
ment (85.1—87.2) and by westernness more than is the total 
element (54.0—51.4). These differences are due in great part 
to the influence of the Compositae, Leguminosae and Gramineae. 
In extra-continental range the dominant families fall behind 
the total specific element, expressed by the figures 24.3-—27.0, 
while in NSEW range they are approximately identical with 
the total element. In physiognomic characters it may be noted 
that the dominant families fall behind in arboreal percentage 
(1.9—4.7) and in shrubby p2rcentage (3.8—8.8), but lead in 
herbaceous percentage (94.8—86.6). Again in the habitat ele- 
ments a similar variation is to be discovered, for the dominant 
families furnish, in comparison with the total element a smaller 
per centage of aquatics (1.9—-4.0), a slightly larger percentage 
of marsh and swamp species (23.9—-22.5) and an approximately 
equal percentage of drier-soil species. These variations from 
the general averages for the entire floral element are explica- 
ble through the more marked endemic quality of the dominant 
family species. The highly endemic character of the Legum- 
inosae and Compositae, contributing more than two hundred 
species to the dominant family element, is thus reflected in the 
general result of the dominant family tabulations. It is pre- 
cisely the two dominant families most distinctly of southern 
range that thus become emphasised as peculiarly endemic. 
The connection of this fact with earlier statements regarding 
the preponderantly northern intra-continental range of extra- 
continental species will be apparent. 
Of the dominant family element, 272 species are monocoty- 
ledonous, 226, archichlamydeous and 229, metachlamydeous. Of 
this element, then, the Monocotyledones furnish 37.4 per cent., 
the Archichlamydeae 30.8 per cent. and the Metachlamydeae 
81.8 percent. Compared with the total floral element, this shows 
a falling off in Archichlamydeae (39.1—30.8), a slight reduction 
in Metachlamydeae (32.3—31.8) and a proportional gain in 
Monocotyledones (28.4—37.4). The strong development of the 
