| |
| | MBG New Caledonia: Geology, Tectonic History, and Soils (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-06) |
 | | The evolution of New Caledonia's flora and vegetation has been strongly influenced by its geological and tectonic history (Guillon, 1974; Lapouille, 1981; Lillie and Brothers, 1970; Paris, 1981a, b). |
 | | New Caledonia separated from Australia about 65 million years ago, and drifted to the northeast, reaching its present position about 50 million years ago (Coleman, 1980; Raven, 1980). |
 | | Many attributes of New Caledonia's flora, such as its high generic and familial diversity, and the presence of numerous primitive groups, would be very difficult to explain otherwise (e.g., by long-distance dispersal). |
| www.mobot.org /MOBOT/research/newcaledonia/geology.html (308 words) |
|