Oct. i, 1885.] The Australasian Scientific Magazine. 9 1 
P. Hasskarlii, Trametes occidentalis, Hexagonia polygramma, Stereum 
Bonjanum, S. lobatum ; all obtained by Mr. Armit. Algs : Sargassum 
decurrens, Cystophyllura muricatum, Turbinaria vulgaris, Chneospora 
obtusangula, Hydroclathrus cancellatus, \ idalia purnila, Amansia glomerata, 
Acanthophora dendroides, Desmia ambigua, Gracilaria lichenoides, 
Sarcodia palmata, Hypnea hamulosa, H. seticulosa, Phycoseris reticulata, 
Chaetomorpha valida. These cryptogamic plants were named by the 
following renowned specialists respectively: Dr. C. Mueller, Dr. J. 
Mueller, Dr. M. C. Cooke, Dr. W. Bonder. New Guinea ought to 
yield us thousands of evascular cryptograms from its lowlands jungles 
up to its alpine summits. 
The following genera of plants are now known to be represented also in 
New Guinea, irrespective of those mentioned in the Malesia and in the 
present work ; but the Papuan species so far have as yet not been defined 
from the mostly imperfect material available : Oxymitra, Chloranthus, 
Busbequea, Cratseva, Schuurmansia, Sterculia, Priumfetta, Hopea, Vateria, 
Antidesma, Omalanthus, Elatostemma, Cudrania, Celastrus, Samadera, 
Spondias, Mollugo, Salicornia, Alysicarpus, Cajanus, Uraria, I ueiaria, 
Strongyloden, Lagerstroemia, Nauclea, Lasianthus, Modecca, Hodgsoma, 
Cucumis, Agapetes, Labisia, Ardisia, Diospyros, Strychnos, Melodinus, 
Graptophyllum, Buechnera, Spatoglottis, Habenaria, Smilax, Monochoria, 
Scirpodendron, Hypely thrum, Sporobolus, Cyathea, Alsophila, Hypolepis, 
Spiridens. Several of these were first mentioned as Papuan by Dr. 
Beccari in D’Albertis’s New Guinea ii. 396 — 400, where also additional 
notes on Palms are given. Of many of the genera, previously recorded, 
now additional species are known, often however only in a state insufficient 
for exact examination. 
The six parts of Dr. Beccarrs splendid u Malesia,’ issued between 1&77 
and 1884, contain accounts of plants belonging to the orders of Magno- 
liacete, Monimiaceae, Myristicacere, Nepenthacete, \iolacese, Chaihetiaceae, 
Euphorbiacese, Olacinse, Araliacese, Rubiacese, Ericaceae, Coniferae, 
Cycadeie, Burmanniacese, Aroidte, and Palmse — Papuan species being 
described along with others from the Sunda Islands, often extensively and 
connectedly. _ . 
On counting up what is known now of the Papuan vegetation with 
specific exactitude it will be found that about 1000 species stand as 
hitherto defined on literary record. Of these writings of Blume, Miquel 
and Scheffer gave about 380 ; Beccari’s Malesia added to them about 140, 
largely new to science ; the “ Papuan Plants ” up to date made additions 
to the extent of about 420, mostly known from India and Australia before 
(including 34 evasculares) ; De Candolle’s monographic and some other 
recent works give about 60 more. Thus the species of plants, hitherto 
determined, are forming probably not more than one-third or even only one- 
fourth of those, constituting the flora of vasculares of the great 1 apuan Island. 
From these and other data we are justified to conclude already, that the 
botanic (though far less the zoologic) features of the Papuan lowlands are 
mainly Malayan ; but it remains yet to be ascertained, whether the high- 
land-flora of New Guinea is chiefly repeating Himalaian or perhaps 
Australian types or largely representing endemic forms. The known 
presence of Araucaria and Epacridse in temperate altitudes vindicating 
already for the up-land flora of New Guinea to some extent an Australian 
character, while the vegetation of the north-east portion of the Australian 
continent is largely Malayan also. 
