C FLOBA OF TASMANIA. [Fossil Plants, Geology, etc., 



Cures, festiva. Arctic North America, and Lapland. 



Carex curta. Arctic and Alpine Europe, Asia, and North America. 



Phleum alpinum. Arctic and Alpine Europe, Asia and America. 



Alopeeurus alpinus. Arctic and Alpine Europe, Asia and America. 



Agrostis canina. Europe, North Asia, North America. 



AirsLfexuosa. Europe, North Asia, North America. 



Poa pratensis. Temperate and Arctic Europe, Asia, North America. 



Poa nemoralis. Northern and Arctic and Alpine Europe, Asia, Himalaya, North America. 



Triticum caninum. Temperate and Arctic Europe and America, Central and Northern Asia. 



Hor&eum jubatum. Temperate North America. 



Here are 30 species, of which the Taraxacum is found both in New Zealand and Fuegia, and 

 the Veronica Anagallis and Agrostis canina in New Zealand only. If to this we add 12 from 

 the Australian list of northern forms, which are also found in south Chili, or the Antarctic islands, 

 we have two nearly equal lists of decidedly northern plants in the south temperate and colder zones, 

 — one of the Old World, the other of the New ; in which lists about one-third of the plants are common 

 to both. I have no catalogue of the decidedly indigenous European plants in South Africa, and there- 

 fore cannot extend this subject by comparing the two south temperate divisions of the Old World 

 Flora in respect of the northern plants they contain ; but my impression is that though South Africa 

 adds so many northern genera, it will fall short in number of nearer allied forms. 



The last observation I shall make with reference to this subject is, that the existing European 

 Flora does not contain one Australian representative, nor betray the remotest direct botanical 

 affinity with the Australian. I have elsewhere indicated (p. xxi.) that there is evidence of what are 

 now Australian plants having once inhabited Europe. In north-eastern Asia there are however a 

 few Australian forms, of which the Haloragis, Stylidium, and Bceckia of China, the Microtis of Bonin, 

 Stackhousia and Thysanotus? of Philippine Islands, Thelymilra of Java, and ProteacecB of Japan are 

 examples. Connecting these again is the singular assemblage of Austraban forms on the lofty 

 mountain Kini Balou in Borneo, and which consists of species of Drimys, Leptospermum u Leucopogon, 

 Coprosma, Didiscus, Drapetes, Euphrasia, Phyllocladus, Dacrydium, and an Irideous and Restiaceous 

 plant, both apparently allied to Australian genera. 



§ 12. 



On the Fossil Flora of Australia, and its Geology in relation to the Existing Flora. 



The fossiliferous rocks of Australia do not throw much light upon the antiquity of its existing 

 Flora, because of the hiatus which geologists seem to consider exists between the palaeozoic and 

 tertiary strata of that country. Mr. Jukes* has called attention to the curious fact that this deficient 

 series in Australia is largely developed in Europe, and there presents such Australian forms of 

 life as marsupiate quadrupeds, Trigonia and other fossil shells, together with Cycadeous plants. 

 To the latter no importance can be attached, as this Order is far more characteristic of tropical 

 America, of India, and even of south-east Africa, than of Australia ; but on the other hand the 



* J. B. Jukes, 'Physical Structure of Australia,' p. 89, etc. 



