24 Descriptive Notes on Papuan Plants. 
hitherto defined on literary record. Of these the 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 mono- 
graphise 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 Papuan Island. 
From these and other data we are justified to conclude already, that 
the botanic (though far less the zoologic) features of the Papuan low- 
lands are mainly Malayan ; but it remains yet to be ascertained, 
whether the highland-flora of New Guinea is chiefly repeating Hima- 
laian or perhaps Australian types or largely presenting endemic forms. 
The known presence of Araucaria and Epacridae 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. 
These questions of the features of the Papuan flora — so important for 
phyto-geography — will with other scientific problems likely be solved 
this year to some degree through the two expeditions, which just set 
out on their glorious errands, — the one under the command of Capt. 
Everill, E.N., and provided for by the Governments of New South 
Wales and Victoria ; the other under the leadership of Mr. H. O. Forbes ; 
the former fitted out by the Geographic Society of Australia solely, the 
other by that society and several English scientific unions jointly. 
Melbourne, June 1885. 
