280 
On the Conifer<t of Tasmania. 
considerable distance from its source, and far from tlie locality of 
the Pines themselves, can be considered as a voucher for the 
vegetation of the marshes in question, we must confess ourselves 
still ignorant of any plant so abundant as to have suggested an 
appellation for an area perhaps as large as Middlesex, though in 
an island smaller than Ireland. 
In 1825, Mirbel's Paper on the Geographical Distribution of 
the Conferee appeared, in which Mr. Brown enumerated, 
besides many other new individuals of this Order, two from 
Tasmania: the Podocarpus alpina, Br., which inhabits the 
summit of Mount Wellington, and Callitris Australis, Br., or 
the Oyster-Bay Pine. These, with the Podocarpus aspleniifolia 
of Labillardifere, were the only Conferee known to grow in this 
island, until the collections of the late lamented Mr. Lawrence 
arrived, containing a species of Podocarpusl which has been seen 
by no subsequent Botanist. In 1810 Mr. Cunningham gathered 
the Huon Pine in an imperfect state, and from his specimens 
the fructification will be here described. Lastly, in 1833, Mr. 
Gunn discovered no fewer than three species of the genus Athro- 
taxis, and another Pine belonging to a new genus to be here 
described (Microcachrys, nob.) ; since which he has added a 
second Callitris, increasing the number of Conifers from four to 
ten. Atlirotaxis was founded by the late Professor Don,* on two 
of Mr. Gunn’s plants contained in Dr. Lindley’s herbarium. 
Before proceeding to an enumeration of the Tasmanian Coni- 
ferce, I may be allowed to offer a few remarks on the distribution 
of that Order in the southern portion of our globe, seeing it has 
been so greatly augmented since the publication of Mirbel’s 
valuable Memoir.+ 
One of the most striking features of the Conferee in the 
Southern Hemisphere is their general dissimilarity to those of the 
Northern. Yet, although the genera be fewer in number, they 
have an equally wide range; while their species, though bearing 
a larger proportion to the genera, are confined within much nar¬ 
rower limits. Thus, out of the ten genera, and between fifty and 
* Don in Linn. Trans, v. 18, p. 171. 
f Vide Mirbel, in Mcmoires du Museum, v. 13, p. 38. 
