jHi
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.
On commencing the Flora of New Zealand I addressed a few remarks to my readers at the Antipodes,
in which I represented the advantages of the study of B otany, if only for the utUitarian purpose of acquiring
the names of many little known and useful plants th a t contribute so mucli to the ir comfort
and enjoyment. In the absence of such aids as are attainable in countries w-here a knowledge of botany
is more generally diffused, the necessary examination and study required to name plants properly
by their natural characters is considerable; h u t by going thi-ough the process for himself, th e beginner
rapidly acquires a knowledge of the structure and anatomy of Na tu ra l Orders, Genera, and Species,
which win enable him to prosecute the study of their affinities, geographical distribution, and variation,
so as gi-eatly to extend the very limited knowledge we possess of these difficult branches of the
science, He will discover th a t an elementary acquaintance with the N a tu ra l Orders and Species of
plants is not so readily acquired as in many divdsions of th e animal kingdom, where it is deduced
from a consideration of external characters of form, clothing, and colour, or from modifications of
conspicuous o rg an s: ho must commence with the knife and the microscope, tracing the development
of important organs, however minute; and if he desfre to obtain th a t knowledge of the affinities of
plants which alone will enable him to prosecute otber branches of th e science, be can only do so by
first making himself thoroughly acquainted with the ir comparative anatomy.
In the hope of being able to offer some remarks th a t may facilitate the labours of those who
would pursue the higher braiiclics of this science, I shall preface the observations I have to offer on
the affinities and distribution of the New Zealand Flora, wdth some general theoretical views ou the
origin, variation, and dispersion of species. Tlicse are seldom alluded to in such botanical works as
are within the reach of the colonist; and, though probably familiar to most of my English readers,
I need hardly apologize to th e latter for dwelling ou them, if they agree with me in considering th a t
it is very necessary for those who sot themselves up as systematists, to give tlieir individual impressions
upon-these important and obscure subjects, the elucidation of which is one great object of the ir
studies. N o t only may a naturalist’s views be supposed to represent the result of bis accumulated
experience, but his mode of treating Ids subject must in many cases be influenced by them, however
much he may try to avoid it. For instance, it is natural to suppose th a t an observer who believes
species to he arbitrary divisions of a genus, dependent on the naturalist’s choice of characters, will