XXXVI FLORA OP NEW ZEALAND. 



MW ZEALAiNT), ETC. AUSTKALIA AND TASMANIA. TEMPEHATE AND COLD S. A1TEEICA. 



Prasophylhim Colensoi, H.f. Prasophyllum Australe, Br. 



Spirant lies Novw-Zelandiw, H.f. Spiranthes Australis, Br. 



Orthoceras Solandri, Lindl. Orthoceras striatum, Br. 



Thelyniitra Forsteri, Sw. Tlielymitra ixioides, Sw. 



Microtis porrifolia, Spr. Microtis parviflora, Br. 



Acianthus Sinclairii, H.f. Acianthus ,/oraicatfw, Br. 



Cyrtostylis oblonga, IT.f. Cyrtostylis reniformis, Br. 



Adenockilus gracilis, H.f. Erioehilns autumnalis, Br. 



Caladenia minor, H.f. Caladenia cornea, Br. 



Pterostylis graminea, H.f. Pterostylis longifolia, Br. 



Neniatoceras maerantlia, H.f. Corysanthesj&M&n'aftz, Br. 



G-astrodia Cunninghamii, H.f. Gastrodia sesamoides, Br. 



Cheiloglottis eornuta, H.f. Cheiloglottis dvpJiylla, Br. 



Enough is here given to show that many of the peculiarities of each of the three great areas of land 

 in the southern latitudes are representative ones, effecting a botanical relationship as strong as that 

 which prevails throughout the lands within the Arctic and Northern Temperate zones, and which is 

 not to he accounted for by any theory of transport or variation, but which is agreeable to the hypo- 

 thesis of all being members of a once more extensive flora, which has been broken up by geological 

 and climatic causes. 



I have alluded to Pacific Island peculiarities in the New Zealand Flora ; these are few, but very 

 well marked by some otherwise local genera, as Coprosma, Astelia, Exocarpus, Dammara, Geniostoma, 

 Cyathodes, Santalum, Elatostemma, Ascarina, Cordyline, and others, of which Ascarina is the most 

 remarkable, as the genus has hitherto been found nowhere but in New Zealand and the Sandwich 

 Islands. Until the New Caledonian and Hebridean vegetation especially is known, however, we 

 cannot follow out this affinity, as I do not doubt that their rich floras will conuect the Botany of the 1 

 Pacific, Australian, New Zealand, and Malay Islands in a very remarkable manner, and exhibit affini- 

 ties of the utmost importance. 



There has lately indeed been discovered a most remarkable and unique instance of represen- 

 tation by close botanical affinity between very distant spots, viz. the existence of three of the most 

 peculiar Antarctic, New Zealand, and Tasmanian genera on the lofty mountain of Kini-Balu, in 

 Borneo, situated under the equator, viz. Drapetes, Plnjllocladus, and Drimys*. 



I II. ON THE VARIATION OF NEW ZEALAND SPECIES. 



The difficulty of reducing the variations of species or of their organs to any system is confessedly 

 very great, and I have not the necessary materials for arranging such data as the New Zealand Flora 

 affords ; still there are certain facts which appear of great importance in the consideration of the. 

 general character of any flora, but which are almost invariably overlooked, because in the present 



* These formed part of a very small collection made by H. Low, Esq., most of which I have described in the 

 ' Icoues Plantarum,' vol. x. ; they were gathered at about 8000 feet elevation, and consisted of a mixture of Aus- 

 tralian, Antarctic, and Indian forms. Amongst the hitter, many species of Rhododendron prevailed, — a genus un- 

 known south of the equator in the Old World, and here associated with Bacrydium, Epaeridea, and the above- 

 mentioned Antarctic genera, which are almost unknown in the northern hemisphere. 



