CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The study of insular floras.—Their investigation in this work from the standpoint of dispersal.—The significance of plant-distribution in the Pacific.—The problems connected with the mountain-flora of Hawaii.—The persistence of dispersing agencies at the coast, their partial suspension on the mountain-top, their more or less complete suspension in the forest, and the effect on the endemic character of plants.—The connection between the endemism of birds and plants.—The relative antiquity of plants of the coast, forest, and mountain-top.—The genetic relation between coast and inland species of the same genus.—The ethics of plant-dispersal.—Evolution takes no heed of modes of dispersal.—The seed-stage is the price of Adaptation.

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