OF THE MALDIVE ISLANDS. 
139 
Now let us examine into the local distribution of these 
species, as given in detail above. Dividing the islands into 
the following groups : The Chagos, Southern Maldives (Addu 
and Suvadiva Atolls), Central Maldives (Haldumati to Male 
Atolls, south of the Kardiva Channel), Northern Maldives 
(north of the Kardiva Channel) ,Minikoi, Western Laccadives 
(the chain including Akati and Bitrapar), Central Laccadives 
(Kiltan, Kadamum, Ameni, &c.), and Eastern Laccadives 
(Anderut, Kalpeni, &c.) — we have — 
Chagos. 
S.M. C. M. 
N.M. 
Mkoi. W. L. 
G.L. 
Species cert. 2 ... 
12 ., 
.. 38 . 
.. 26 . 
.. 21 ... 21 . 
.. 30 
prob. — ... 
14 ., 
.. 2 . 
.. 7 .. 
.. — ... — ... 
.. — 
Total ... 2 
26 
40 
33 
21 21 
30 
In the first line are given only those species of which we 
have a certified record of occurrence ; in the second are given, 
for the Maldives only, those species which are so common 
elsewhere in the group that their occurrence is probable, 
e.g.^ Abutilon indicum. Cassia Tora, Evolvulus alsinoides, 
Fleurya interrupta, Ischæmum ciliare, for the Southern 
Maldives. The figures for the Chagos are certainly incom- 
plete, owing to Mr. Hemsley having excluded this class of 
plants as far as possible. If we examine the remainder, we 
arrive at the following conclusions : — The greatest number of 
weeds of this class is to be found at the centres of maximum 
traffic and commerce, i.e., the central islands of each group. 
Many of the 40 species recorded for the Central Maldives are 
found in Male or Malé and Hulule (close by) only, and the 
number decreases as we pass to the outlying islands. In the 
Eastern Laccadives, though so near to the Indian coast, we 
find only a few species. Male is not the only point to which 
traffic comes : the northern and southern atolls (see above, 
Tiladummati, &c.) have a certain amount of direct communi- 
cation with India, which has caused introduction of some, 
weeds not known in Male. Leaving Diego Garcia out of 
consideration, in which the weeds are of Seychelles or 
( 19 ) 
