FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND.
gists, with tRose laws th a t govern animal life also; but there is notliing in Avliat is assumed above,
in favour of tlie antiquity of species and tlicii’ wide distribution, th a t is inconsistent Avith any theory
of their origin th a t the speculator may adopt. IMy object lias uot so much been to ascertain Avhat
may, or may uot, have been the original condition of species, as to show that, granting more scope
for vaiiation than is generally allowed, still there ai’e no unassailable grounds for concluding th a t
they now vary so as to obliterate specific charac te r; in other AA^ords, I liaA^c endeavoured to show
th a t they are, for all practical purposes of progress in botanical science, to be regarded as permanently
distinct creations, wliich have surA'ived great geological changes, and AAdiich Avill cither die
out, or be destroyed, with theii* distinctiA'e marks unchanged. AA'c have direct evidence of the
impoverishment of the flora of the globe, in th e extinction of many most peculiar insular species
Avithin the last cen tu ry ; but Avhetbcr the balance of nature is kept up by tbe consequent increase of
the remainder in indiA-iduals, or by the sudden creation of ncAv ones, does not appeal’, nor have
we any means of knowing: if the expression of an opinion be insisted on, I should he induced to
follow the example of an eminent astronomer, who, when th e question Avas put to him, as to Avhether
the planets are inhabited, replied th a t the earth was so, and left his querist to argue from analogy.
So with regard to species, we ImoAv th a t they perish suddenly or gradually, Avithout varying into
other forms to take their place as species, from Avhich established premiss the speculator may draw
his own conclusions.
And now th a t I have brought these desultory observations to a close, I cannot reAueAv them
without fcariug th a t I may incui’ the charges of, on the one hand, attempting to promote a spirit of
theoretical inquiry amongst those naturalists of the distant colony whom I Avould fain in s tru c t; and
on the other, of giAung Avay to it myself, and occupying th e time of my readers AAuth what is Avith
too many the foundation of fruitless controversy. In answer to the first I would say, th a t the
speculations Avhich I have endeavoured to combat are becoming widely spread among-st superficial
observers, and are quoted every day as objections to tbe devotion of time and labour to a systematic
inquiry into any branch of Natm’al History. The very many aspirants to a knowledge of
science vihom I have had the pleasure of knoAAung in the Colonies, though Avell educated in the
ordinary acceptation of the term, have never been trained to habits of observation, or of reasoning
upon what they read in the hook of nature, nor have they been grounded in the elements of natural
science; they are hence prone to rely for information on these speculative subjects (which they seek
vrith avidity) upon a class of works th a t are, wdth veiy few exceptions, by autliors avIio have no
practical acquaintance Avith the sciences they wTite about, or wdth the facts they so often distort.
I have farther had a more practical object in aucav—the offering of theoretical reasons for inculcating
caution on the future botanists of New Zealand; I have endeavoured to make it clear to those who
may read these remarks, th a t systematic botany is a far more difficult and important object than
is generally supposed; th a t the progress the student avlU make liimself, and hcncc th a t the science
AA-ill make in his country, is not to be measured by the number of new species he may find, but by
his manner of treating the old, and his desire to regard all as parts of the vegetable kingdom, and
not of the New Zealand Flora only; and th a t there is no surer sign of his not appreciating the aim
and scope of the science he cultivates, than a craving to load it Avith names, and to take contracted
A-iews of species, their variation and distribution.
To tliose who may accuse me of giAung way to hasty generalization or loose speculation on the
antiquity and dispersion of plants over parts of the Southern Hemisphere, I may answer, th a t no
speculation is idle or fruitless, th a t is not opposed to tru th or to probability, and wliich, whilst it
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXVll
co-ordinates a body of Avell established facts, does so without violence to nature, and Avith a due regard
to the possible results of future discoveries. I may add, th a t after twelve years’ devotion to the
laborious accumulation and arrangement of facts in the field and closet, untrammelled by any theories
to combat or vindicate, I have thought th a t I might bring forward the conclusions to which my
studies have led me, Avith less chance of incurring such a reproach, th an those Avould, who, with far
better abilities and judgment, have not had my experience and oiiportunities.
C H A PT ER I I I .
1. ON THE PHYSIOGNOMY AND AFFINITIES OF THE NEW ZEALAND FLORA.
In the folloAiing remarks, the floAiæring plants alone of New Zealand are referred to, except when it
is otherwise stated : my object being primarily to show th e relation between th e botany of New
Zealand and th a t of the south temperate continents, I have, for several reasons, considered th a t
the introduction of the Ferns even was not expedient:—1. Because they include only one family of
Cryptogamia, and th a t the only one towards a knoAvledge of whose number and distribution in New
Zealand we have even approximately accurate data.—2. Because the diffusion of the ir minute spores
is so ubiquitous*, and their growTli is so dependent on one climatic element, viz. humidity, th a t
their geographic distribution does not harmonize Avith th a t of flow’ering plants in general.
The traveller from Avhatever country, on arriAung in New Zealand, finds himself suiTounded by
a vegetation th a t is almost vdiolly new to liim ; with little th a t is at first sight striking, except the
Tree-fern and Corclyline of the northern parts, and nothing familiar, except possibly the Ylangrove ;
and as he extends his inAæstigations into the Flora, with the exception of Pomaderris and Leptosper-
mum, he finds few forms th a t remind him of o ther countries. Of the numerous Pines, very few recall
by habit and appearance the idea attached cither to trees of tliis family in the n orthern hemisphere, or
to the Callitris of Ncav Holland, or to the Araucarioe of th a t country and Norfolk Islan d ; while of
the families tliat on examination indicate the only close affinity between th e New Zealand Flora and
tha t of any other country, (the Myrtaceoe, Epacrideoe, and Proteaceæ,) few resemble in general aspect
* A most remarkable exemplification of this is found in the occurrence of Lycopodium cernuum (a most universally
distributed Fern in all warm climates) in the Azores, where it groAvs only around some hot springs. Within
the last few months it has been also collected in St. Paul’s Island (lat. 38° south), by the naturalists of Captain
Denham’s Expedition to the Pacific Islands : there, too, only where the ground is much heated by springs. These
facts arc most remarkable, for the Lycopodium cernuum does not inhabit Madeira or any spot in the Azores, except
the vicinity of the hot springs, and St. Paul’s Island is also far beyond its natural isothermal in that longitude of the
southern hemisphere ; and it is to be remarked, that in neither island is the Lycopodium accompanied by any other
tropical plant, which would indicate the aerial transport of larger objects than the microscopic spores of Lycopodia,
which are raised in clouds from large surfaces covered with the gregarious species.