368 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XVII, July 1963 
Of the nonendemic genera 93 are widely 
distributed, occurring in New Zealand, Aus- 
tralia, and Polynesia; 47 others range widely 
through tropical countries, but do not reach 
New Zealand; 1 occurs in New Zealand only; 
5 in Australia only; 3 in Polynesia only; 11 in 
New Zealand and Australia only; 2 in New 
Zealand and Polynesia only; 1 in Africa only. 
It is interesting to state, and Oliver omitted 
to do so, that most of the genera are repre- 
sented only by a few species: 169 genera are 
represented by 209 species, which means that 
speciation is not strong on the island. Progres- 
sive evolution was almost absent on the island, 
and we have only transformation, probably 
due to genetic impoverishment in the popu- 
lations. 
It is possible also that some endemics of the 
island are only relics of species more widely 
distributed in the past, and now preserved only 
on the island. 
If we compare the number of the very widely 
distributed genera (see above) and the genera 
with very restricted areas, we see a great dif- 
ference: of 165 nonendemic genera 95 are 
distributed in New Zealand, Australia, and 
Polynesia; 47 only in Australia and Polynesia; 
and only 23 belong to the different countries, 
but are isolated. 
The presence of a large portion of widely 
distributed genera and species might have been 
expected in the flora of an isolated island, be- 
cause species possessing facilities for wide dis- 
persal would naturally form the bulk of immi- 
grants after the land connection had been 
severed. 
Fig. 6. View of the lagoon from the south; in the background are Rabbit Island and Mt. Eliza; on the 
seashore are three Araucarias introduced from Norfolk Island, growing well among the native plants. Taken at 
low tide. (Photo by Miss Z. Liepa.) 
