BOTANY ON TEREA AUSTRALIS. 63 



dones, bear nearly the same proportion to these primary 

 divisions in the Australian Flora. 



The four remaining orders are Myrtacese, Proteacese, 

 Restiaceae, and Epacrideae. Of these Myrtacea, though it 

 is likewise very general, has evidently its maximum in 

 Terra Australis, more species having been already observed 

 in that country than in all other parts of the world; 

 Proteacea and Restiaceee, which are nearly confined to the 

 southern hemisphere, and appear to be most abundant in 

 the principal parallel of New Holland, are also very nume- 

 rous at the Cape of Good Hope : and Epacridece, at least, 

 equally limited to the southern hemisphere, are, with very 

 few exceptions, confined to Terra Australis. 



Several other less extensive natural families have also 

 their maximum in this country, especially Goodenovise, 

 Stylidese, Myoporinse, Pittosporese, Dilleniaceae, Diosmese, 

 and Haloragese ; but the only orders that appear to be 

 absolutely confined to Terra Australis are Tremandrese and 

 Stacbhousese, both of them very small tribes, which [sss 

 many botanists may be disposed to consider rather as genera 

 than separate families. 



A great part of the genera of Terra Australis are peculiar 

 to it, and also a considerable number of the species of such 

 of its genera as are found in other countries. 



Of the species at present composing its Flora scarcely 

 more than 400, or one tenth of the whole number, have 

 been observed in other parts of the world. More than half 

 of these are Phsenogamous plants, of which the greater part 

 are natives of India, and the islands of the southern Pacific ; 

 several, however, are European plants, and a few belong 

 even to equinoctial America, Of the Cryptogamous 

 plants the far greater part are natives of Europe. 



In comparing very generally the Flora of the principal 

 parallel of Terra AustraHs with that of South Africa, we 

 find several natural famihes characteristic of the Australian 

 vegetation, as Proteacese^ Diosmese, Restiaceae, Polygaleae, 

 and also Buttneriaceae, if Hermannia and Mahernia be 

 considered as part of this order, existing, and in nearly 

 equal abundance, at the Cape of Good Hope ; others are 



