42 
AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 
Y. AFFINITIES, HISTORY, AND ORIGIN OF THE FLORA. 
(In my memoir “ On the Systematic Botany of the Islands to the South of New 
Zealand” (Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand, vol. II, pp. 289 to 471), I have 
discussed at considerable length the character of the flora of the subantarctic islands 
to the south of New Zealand, including Macquarie Island. In that memoir, I have 
passed in review the whole of the vascular plants found in the area, examining their 
affinities, and tabulating their geographical range. I have also attempted to inquire 
into the possible origin of the flora, and to show how it has acquired its present com¬ 
position. Much that I have written therein is closely applicable to Macquarie Island, 
and should be perused by all students of this paper.) 
Macquarie Island occupies a peculiarly interesting position for the plant 
geographer. Situated rather more than 600 miles to the south-west of New Zealand, 
and approximately 920 miles to the south-east of Tasmania, it is the last outpost of 
Australasia in the direction of Antarctica, from the nearest point of which it is distant 
about 970 miles. Auckland Island and Campbell Island make the nearest approach 
to it, but they lie quite 400 miles to the north-east. Away to the eastward rolls the 
vast expanse of the South Pacific, with no trace of land until the extreme termination 
of South America is reached, a distance of quite 4,600 miles. Further still to the east¬ 
ward, and in precisely the same latitude as Macquarie Island, lies South Georgia, 
distant approximately 5,800 miles. And if we turn to the opposite direction, and 
travel westward from Macquarie Island, nothing but open ocean is seen until Kerguelen 
Island is reached, about- 3,250 miles away. What is the nature of the vegetation that 
inhabits an island so far removed from any source of supply ? A reply to this question 
will be afforded by the following list of the vascular flora, so far as it is known at 
present, accompanied by particulars as to the distribution of the species. 
Catalogue of the Vascular Plants found on Macquarie Island, showing their geographical 
distribution (naturalized plants excluded). 
1. Ranunculus biternatus Smith. Fuegia, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Kerguelen 
Island, Marion and Crozet Islands, Amsterdam Island. A true circumpolar 
species. 
2. Cardamine corymbosa Hook. f. Auckland and Campbell Islands, Fuegia. 
3. Cardamine glacialis D.C., var. subcarnosa Schulz. Auckland and Campbell Islands. 
The typical plant is found in Chili, Fuegia, and the Falkland Islands. 
4. Stellaria decipiens Hook. f. Auckland and Campbell Islands. 
5. Colobantlius muscoides Hook. f. Auckland and Campbell Islands. 
