1S36.] 1 



of the IVeilgherries, 



we must look for the identical species of the Hills* ; at the height 

 where the Rhododendron flourishes, these will no doubt be found, 

 together with many others inhabiting a similar climate, that have not 

 found their way to Ceylon or the western ghauts. 



It is probable that the islands will be found to possess a richer Flora 

 than the Peninsula, and it is to be regretted they have been so little 

 explored. Singapore, alone, contains a vast number of undescribed 

 species, and, in the neighbouring islands, there is alike variety. If 

 these individually contain a variety of plants, equal at all to that on the 

 Malabar Coast, or if we consider the Malabar plants as a detached 

 portion of the insular Flora, it would be difficult to fix a limit to the 

 probable number of species, that might be comprehended in a com- 

 plete herbarium from the Archipelago. 



Although the vegetation on the hills is generally of the insular cha- 

 racter, it is not by any means exclusively so 5 the Gnaphalia, on the 

 contrary, have the appearance of African plants ; and the same may 

 be remarked of the gigantic Solatium and Crotolaria. 



Of the geographical distribution of plants, in general, much is not at 

 present known. It is a theory that will be better understood, when 

 collections are more complete, but, as a study, it is interesting, and 

 likely to be attended with discoveries important to science. Many 

 plants are almost universally distributed, such as the grapes, which are 

 found in all climates ; but others have a very decided line of demarca- 

 tion. The genus Pelargonium, or geranium, is confined to southern 

 Africa, and Rosa to the northern hemisphere. Erica is not an Ame- 

 rican genus, yet is distributed very generally over northern Europe and 

 southern Africa, where the species amount to several hundreds. These 

 two localities of the heath, probably belong to the same area, which is 

 partially interrupted by the intermediate tropical regions of Africa. 

 Among the genera confined to America may be mentioned the Cactus, 

 or prickly pear, which, though occurring in numerous species there, 

 is not common to other countries. Supplying its place in Asia, we have 

 the Euphorbia. But, of all places, Australia has the most marked indi- 

 cations of a methodical distribution. Plants there are not only of 

 strange species, but they differ, inhabit and aspect, from those found 

 in other parts of the world. A certain number of the AcaciiT, for 

 example, are leafless ; when the plant has attained the size of a tree, 

 leaves cease to be produced, and their place is supplied by the winged 

 stipules. In this way a tree, that rises from seed with a pinnate, or 

 doubly pinnate, leaf, completes the remainder of its growth, with 

 foliage resembling a myrtle or willow. None of the Indian Acacia; 



* Dried specimens from the heights of Sumatra would be interesting, could they by 

 any means be obtained, 



