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HYBRIDISM OF NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 21 
the existence of truly specific unalterable forms is denied by 
many a naturalist in these latter days. That vegetable as well 
as animal organisms are more or less subject to variation and to 
hybridisation is a fact recognised by all workers in natural his- 
tory ; but to what extent and to within what limits, isa problem 
which in all its details can only be solved by the assiduous and 
united labours of naturalists in generations to come. In touch- 
ing on this subject the writer wishes to draw the attention 
of New Zealand observers particularly to the fact that hybridisa- 
tion plays a more important réle in the origination of new and 
also frequently fertile forms of plants than formerly was sup- 
posed. Although nearly fifty years ago the Hon.and Rev. Dean 
Herbert among British scientific authors had shown that fertile 
hybrids could in many instances be produced, his observations, 
and those of Koelreuter, Gaertner, and some earlier workers in 
this direction, did not receive the attention generally which the 
importance of the subject deserved. To those occupied in New 
Zealand with botanic studies it must be of particular interest to 
ascertain for instance to what extent the numerous but closely- 
allied forms occurring within such genera as Epilobium, Vero- 
nica, Coprosma, Carmichaelia, and Pittosporum, can be traced to 
natural hybridisation. Some spontaneous crosses between Eu- 
ropean Veronicas are well known. Sir Joseph Hooker also 
refers pointedly to a hybrid between V. elliptica and V. 
speciosa, raised by Mr. J. A. Henry, of Edinburgh; and he men- 
tions also that interbreeding takes place between V. salicifolia, 
and V. speciosa, V. macrocarpa, and other congeners under cul- 
tivation. Thus arose V. Andersoni, which is not only fertile, but 
remains also true to its characteristics when raised from seeds. 
The genus Epilobrium would be of particular importance for re- 
searches on natural hybridisation in New Zealand. In a special 
volume on “ Pflanzen-Mischlinge,” all known information on 
hybridisation up to 1881 is ably brought together by Dr. W. 
O. Focke, of Bremen. The early observations by the elder 
Reichenbach and by Lasch on Epilobium hybrids are also re- 
ferred to in this work ; as well as the recent special researches, 
carried out in reference to this genus by Dr. Haussknech, proving 
that avery large number of hybrid forms occur among the Euro- 
pean Epilobiumsfrom the Lowlands to the Alps. Insuch enquiries 
it should be borne in mind that crosses occur as well among mere 
varieties as among assumed species. Thelarge extent of Alpine 
tracts, as well as the considerable area of warm lowland country 
within the geographic limits of New Zealand, would give condi- 
tions as favourable as occur in Europe for the production of 
numerous hybrid forms of Epilobium. Sir Joseph Hooker 
does not put forward the seventeen defined Epilobiums of New 
Zealand as all specific, but suggests that hybridism has had 
something to do with their arising and further development. 
Such hybrid forms may have been doubly misleading; for 
while they obliterated true specific differences, they may have 
led to an undue reduction of species, And again, while the 
