Botanical Aspects of Wegener's Hypothesis

Abstract

I ACCEPT Prof. Compton's correction of the phrase “completely opposed”; it is perhaps too strong a term to have used. Prof. Compton's letter, however, at least admits that the evidence from the botanical side is valueless as a critical test for or against Wegener's hypothesis, and emphasises the fact that supporters of that hypothesis must look elsewhere than to the facts of animal and plant distribution for positive evidence in its support. Zoologists and botanists are dependent on the geologist and geophysicist for the correct interpretation of the palæogeographical changes which have taken place in the earth, and must be guided by them in selecting the basis on which the known geographical distribution of living forms can be explained.