Passage of Plants Across the Atlantic—Haplomitrium Hookeri, Lyell

Abstract

PROF. UNGER arrived at the conclusion that in Tertiary times there was a passage of plants from America to Europe. A plant found by myself last year in the Island of Dominica, West Indies, led me to think it probable that there had been an extension of at least one plant in the opposite direction. The plant to which I refer is one of the Hepatiae, Haplomitrium hookeri of Lyell. It differs so much from other Hepaticae that I was able approximately to identify it on the spot where I found it in considerable abundance. Should it prove to be specifically distinct, my remarks may still, to some extent, hold good. It was growing in a dark, moist, shady spot on the north side of a mountain at an elevation of about 4000 feet. H. hookeri is generally distributed over the North of Europe, but I cannot find that it has ever before been found out of Europe. Dr. Oliver kindly informs me that there are only European specimens in the herbarium at Kew. I have failed in obtaining information of its occurrence either in North or South America, or in the intermediate islands. Nees ab Esenbeck, in his “Synopsis Hepaticorum,” whilst recording a large number of Hepaticae from the West Indies, mentions H. hookeri only from Europe. Now it is by no means an inconspicuous plant, and it seems altogether unlikely to have been overlooked by such careful observers as Swartz and others who have studied the Hepaticae of the West Indies. Hence I draw the following inferences, to which maybe attached a greater or a less amount of probability. 1. That the biological centre for H. hookeri is Northern Europe. 2. That it has thence crossed the Atlantic in a rather narrow zone. 3. That it did not reach the Continent of America. This, of course, is subject to correction. It may have been found there. From the great extent of territory and variety of climate on the mainland, I think if it had ever reached America it would still be found there. 4. That it may have reached the West Indies and have died out from Cuba, Jamaica, and other islands, through the prevalence of dry seasons, before the lower Cryptogamic plants were studied by competent botanists. 5. That it has remained in Dominica because of the altogether peculiar moisture of the climate in that island. 6. That it has not hitherto been found in Dominica because, from some reason unknown to myself, botanists seem to have neglected this true pearl of the Antilles, matchless in the beauty of its natural scenery, and in the wealth of its Cryptogamic flora.