J. fIOBXE ON THE BOTAB'Y OF THE SEYOHELLES. 27 I

Extr@i of Letter addressed to Dr. HOOIUCE by JOHN HOENE, Esq., F.LS., Subdirector of the Botanic Gardens, Mauritius, dated Mauritine, 12th November, 1874.

[Read February 4, 1875.1

I RETURNED from the Seychelles on 1st October last, after spending three months there. During that time I visited Mahe (the principal island of the group), Praslin, Silhouette, FQlicitB, La Digue, A m Frdgates, St. Anne, Aux Cerfs, and was prevented from landing at Marie Anne, a small isle about a mile from FQlicitB, in conse- quence of a rough sea and because the boat could not be detained. Isle Curieuse I vieited on a former occasion. All these islands I travelled over, and searched carefully and minutely, visiting every locality where a new or rare plant could be found, and never allow- ing my thoughts to deceive me. I can assure you I worked very hard, knocking up the men that were with me as guides several times, but enjoyed my work very much, and considerably improved my health and strength notwithstanding fatigues and frequent wettings. I collected about three hundred species, some of which I may have gathered on the previous tour ; but the bulk of them I had not seen before. I have the specimens separated into their natural orders as nearly as I can make them out here; and I hope to be able to send the largest portion of them to you by the next mail, with notes relating to each. I doubt really if many of them will be new ; but, as you remarked, many may prove to be geographically interesting.

Without minutely considering this subject, I may remark that the Seychelles' flora has mare affinities to the floras of Ma- dagascar, East Africa, South of India, Malay islands, and Poly- nesia or Oceania than to those of either Mauritius or Bour- bon. I have yet to discover a genus or eyen a species which is only found in the Seychelles and the two last-named places. That representatives of the same genera and species are common in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Bourbon is not to be gain- said; but such plants have a much wider range, and are com- mon in several other countries. On the other hand, the greatest portion of the Seychelles' genera and species are plants common to all or, in many instances, to one or another of the four first-named places. For example, I may quote for S. India Cnnipnoqmwta zglanicum. which is one of the commonest trees in

28 ?dR. J. HOENE ON THE BOTANY OF TIfE SEYCRELLE8.

the Seychelles, Dittelasma rarak for the Malay islands ; those for Madagascar and E. Africa are so numerous that examples are needless. The Oceanic or Polynesian flora has many represen- tatives in Seychelles, among which may be mentioned, Bawing- tonia speciosa, B. racemosa, Calophyllwm inophyllum, Heritiera lit- toral&, Gordim subcordata, &c. Calophq-Hums of two or three spe- cies are indigenous to Mauritius ; but c. h o p ~ l l z c m is not one of them. Besides the above, it is to be noted that several other oceanic genera and species are not found in Mauritius, although common plants in the Seychelles. The geological formations of the several parts may have something to do iu the distribution of plants, as well as the currents of the ocean. The Seychelles, Mada- gascar, E. Africa, and S. India me granitic, as well as many of the Malay and Polynesian islands; and during all the greater part of the year a strong sea-current passes the Seychelles from the east.

The appearance, nature, and kind of plants I collected in the Seychelles in 1871 lead me to form the above opinion regarding the Seychelles’ flora. When you have seen and examined the plants I collected in the Seychelles this year, I have no doubt that this opinion will be confirmed, the whole being takeniinto consideration. I have also concluded, whether rightly or wrongly, that the balance of the Seychelles’ tlora is in favour of the Mas- carene, if the flora of Madagascar is the typical one, but not if the Mauritius flora is the standard round which the Mascarene flora is gathered. Of course the Seychelles have what may be termed their local peculiarities ; but what these are it would be difficult for me to guess, as I have not many books of reference and have but few specimens from Madagascar. Besides, at least to me, com- paratively little is known of the plants in that large island. When more is known of them, I dare say that some plants which may now be considered peculiar to the Seychelles will be found to belong to Madagascar also. I here more especially refer to the unnamed Rubiaceae in my last collection. The publication of two or three works now in hand will throw a good deal of light on this sub- ject. I allude to the ‘ Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles ’ by Mr. Baker, the ‘ Flora of Tropical Africa ’ by Professor Oliver, and the ‘Flora of India.’ But it will not be well lighted up until more of the Madagascar plants are known. To any young man who wished to make a name for himself, exploring and collect- ing the plants of Madagascar would be really worth his trouble.

ME. D. OLlVEE ON P U N T S COLLECTED IN HEW GUINEA. 29

I called at the Botdnic Gardens, Bourbon, when on my way to the Seychelles ; and I am glad to say that they are very much im- proved since I saw them laat. The Governwent of the island has taken the management of them into its own hands.

List of Plants collected in New Guinea by Dr. A. B. MEPEE, By DANIEL OLIVEB, Esq., F.R.S. sent to Kew December 1874.

& L.S.

[Read April 15, 18’75.1

DR. ADOLF BEBNIIAED MEYE=, Director of the Royal Natural- History Museum of Dresden, recently forwarded to Dr. Hooker, for the Kew Herbarium, the few dried plants which he was able to preserve during his visit t6New Guinea (with a view to zoolo- gical and anthropological research) in 1873.

As he requested that in case any of the species proved to be new they should be published, I have &awn up the annexed list of the whole (there are but ten altogether), with descriptions of the two novelties, for the Linnean Society.

Kew, December 30,1874.

No. 5. CANAVALIA OBTUBIFOLIA, DC. Hub. Elefantgeberge, Geelvinksbay.

Nos. 9 & 11. PENTAPEXRAGMA MACROPHYLLA, oh., sp. nov. Foliis am+ oblique ellipticis breviter acuminatis basi inzquilateris penni- reniis, margine dentibus rrebriusculis aeequilongis saepe incurvis ele- ganter serraiis, supra glabris, subtus vernatione tomentellis, racemis axillaribus multifloris pedunculis incrassatis, calycis lobis liueari-lan- ceolatis acutis corollae crassiusculae lobis oblongo-ovatis 2plo longi- oribus.

Folia alterna, 15 poll. longa, 6-7 poll. lata ; petiolus 16-31 poll. longus. Pedunrulus 4-2 poll. longus ; bracteae lineari-lanceolatce $-+ poll. longae. Calyx (cum pedicello) 2 poll. ; tubus teretiuscnlus Isevis, lobi +-$ poll. longi.

Hab. Geelvinksbay.

Mo. 6. SCBVOLA KCESIGII, VuhZ. Hab. Elcfautgeberge, Geelviuksbny.