F 



60 MR. J. I^UCIIANAX ON THE BOTANY OF 



From the junction to an altitude of 5000 feet the vegetation 

 is idcutieal witli that of the range passed over. The plants col- 

 lected here were Banunculus nivicola, Oimsia macrophylla^ JEpi- 

 lohitim glahellum and E. nummulariifolium^ Euphrasia cuneataj 

 Celmisia glandulosa and C. longifolia^ Forstera Bidioillii and .P. 

 tenella^ Drapetes Dieffenhachii^ WaJiIenberffia saxicola^ Coriaria 

 thymifolia (this is certainly not the C, angustissima of the South), 

 Craspedia alpina^ Dracojphyllmn rosmarinifolium^ Veronica Icevis, 

 GnapTialium prostratum, and Coprosma depressa. JPoafoUosa is ap- 

 parently the only grass, and is the highest plant on the mountain; 

 Senecio Jatifolius is very abundant between 2000 and 4000 feet. 



The highest vegetation consists of a few scattered plants of 

 Claytonia australasica^ Ligiisticum aromaticum and L. piliferiiin, 

 GnapTialium prostratum^ Wahlenbergia saxicolay ajid Foa foliosa: 

 these six may be found up to 6500 feet altitude. 



Dieffenbach seems to have been satisfied that the line of per- 

 petual snow on Mount Egmont was 7500 feet ; this is a mistate, 

 as at this season there were only two or three patches in the 

 mouths of old craters a few hundred feet from the top, which may 

 disappear before May. The ascent of the cone is very laborious, the 

 gradient being very steep ; that point having been reached which 

 retains the volcanic debris only in temporary rest, quantities move 

 downwards on the slightest occasions. The yielding mass of broken 

 tufas and ashes affords little resistance to the feet in the ascent; 

 and both hands and feet must be often used to prevent a loss of 

 ground instead of a gain. As may be expected, not a trace of 

 moisture exists, every drop sinking into the ground, and only 

 appearing again at the bottom of the Cone, where the creeks 

 burst suddenly out from the ground in considerable volume. 



Prom the town to the top of the Cone and back again can be 

 done in three days. Our party took four days, having spent a 

 day in visiting Bell's Fall on the Eocky River. 



The following list will give a better idea of the botany of the 



district : 



Plants collected and noted as being found on Mount 



neigJibourJioody Febricary 1867. 



Clematis indivisa and C. Colen- MeUcytus ramiflorus (lanceolatusj, 



soi. 2000 feet. This plant was also 



Ranunculus uivicola, 4000 to 5000 collected to the north of Auck- 



feet. 



land in 1866. 



Drimys axillaris, two varieties. Pittosporura tenuifolium, crassiio- 



Viola Cimninghamii. lium. eugenioides, cornifoliuDi. 



