WCP2171

[1]¹

Royal Gardens Kew

1 Jan[uary] 1880.

My Dear Sir

I do not recollect any flowering plant which can be clearly said to be peculiar to Bermuda. We have three specimens not accuratel[y] determined or not in a state to speak putatively[?] about, that I c[oul]^d. not affirm fruiting there was no peculiar phanerogam. [2] Mr Baker² tells me Adiantum bellum, a fern. — is rarely[?] known from Bermuda³.

Gen[eral]. Lefroy³ has been taking great pains to get a list made out of Bermuda plants & I think is shortly going to publish something.

If I hear anything to the point I intend to let you know.

Plants have means of [3] dispersion often so distinct from those available of animals, — land shells at any rate — that I [2 words illeg.] have thought the occurrence of peculiar species of the latter could have served[?] as ground for inference that these sh[oul]^d. also be peculiar to plants.

Very truly yours | D. Oliver [signature]⁴

There are 2 or 3 marked forms so far as we know peculiar to the N^o. of species occurring elsewhere — as the old Sisyrin- [4] chium bermudianum (& I think also a form of Rhus Toxicodendron which however is hardly different if at all from the N. American type.)

³Also a new Cephrodium[?]