FLOKA OF TASMANIA. 



[Distribution, of Genera 



opinion, that the fundamental features of the Australian vegetation are not very different from those of 

 the rest of the world, or than the vegetations of other large areas in the world are from one another. 



On the Genera of the Australian Flora. 



The number of Genera of Australian Flowering Plants exceeds 1,300, and each genus has on the 

 average about six species : the Monocotyledons differ in this respect from the Dicotyledons in having 

 rather fewer species to each genus. This proportion is of course smaller than obtains for the whole 

 globe (10-5, Lindley), for Europe (about 8), and India (about 5). 



Of these genera a large number (between 500 and 600) are peculiar to Australia, but a rather 

 larger number are common to India and its islands ; 212 are European, and 146 British. 



The proportion of endemic Australian genera is much larger amongst Dicotyledons, and is very 

 conspicuously great in those Orders which themselves numerically preponderate, as Myrtacea, 

 Goodeniacea, Epacridece, Proteacece, Myoporinece, thus indicating that the generic peculiarities of the 

 vegetation are in a certain sense restricted. 



I have endeavoured to arrange approximately the principal Natural Orders with respect to the 

 number of endemic genera they contain, and their prevalence, as follows : — 



1 . Orders or Natural groups characteristic of the Flora, and half whose genera are endemic. 

 a. All genera endemic : — 



Hasinodoracea?, Xerotideas, Treinandreae. 



b. Upwards of three-fourths of the genera endemic :— 



Melanthacese. Buettneriacese. Myoporineaj. 



Iridea;. Eutaceaa. Proteaceas. 



Dilleniacese. Stylidieae. Epacrideas. 



Pittosporeae. Santalaceae. Goodeniacea?. 



c. Between half and three-quarters of the genera endemic : — 



Bestiaceaa. TTnibelliferae. Phytolaccea?. 



Leguininosse. Compositae. Staekhousiae. 



Myrtaceaj. 

 Cruciferas. 

 Cycadeaa. 



Saxifrages. 



2. Orders or large groups characteristic of the Flora in various respects, which are numerically 

 great, and less than half whose genera are endemic. 



a. Few or no endemic genera : — 



Bammculaceaa. Boraginea?. Polygoneaj. Juncagineas. 



Plautagineae. Laurineae. Xyridese. 



Loganiaceas. 



b. Upwards of three-fourths not endemic :• 

 Malvaceae. Droseraceae. 



Bliainneae. Polygaleaj. 



Halorage*. Kubiace©. 



Portulaceae. Convolvulaceae. 



Loranthaceae. 



Solaneae. Thymelaeae. 



Asclepiadeaa. Urtiees. 



Scropkularineaa. Naiadeas. 



Lentibularineaa. CommelyneaB. 



