98 VEGETATION OF THE 



I beKeve). The ground is covered with soft green Moss, and there is 

 very little underbrush- In this wood about midsummer the beautiful 

 epiphyte (a Loranthus^ probably) is to be seen in flower in abundance. 

 Having passed through this wood we emerged into the valley of the 

 Wairau at a height of perhaps nearly 3000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. The valley here consists principally of large stones, and the vege- 

 tation is very poor. About the river however and on the islands en- 

 closed between its branches there is a considerable variety of shrubs, 

 and many of them, I conceive, unknown \ at least they are new to me. 

 Of these I shall endeavour, upon my next journey to the Wairau, to get 

 as many specimens as T can. The remainder of my journey is down 

 a grassy valley, upon which nothing grows but grass, with here and 

 there a plant of Anise,"^ or that vegetable porcupine which the colonists 

 term Spear-grass. f On the banks of some of the streams which flow 

 into the Wairau, a shrub is met with as yet I believe undescribed : I 

 enclose you a few of the seeds, of wliich I happen to have some by me. 

 Tt is an addition to a natural family which is very sparingly represented 

 in this country — the Leguminosa, The shrub grows to the height of 

 eight or ten feet, and is in outward appearance almost exactly like 

 what we call here the Spanish Broom [Carmickaelia] ; but the flower 

 is pink, small, and in clusters ; when in full flower, about the month 

 of December, it is very handsome. There is another shrub in the 

 Wairau very common on dry rocky places, with a large white Com- 

 foaite flower, which I believe is undescribed. The leaf is about the size 

 of the Laurel, of a pale glossy green, and thick ; the under surface and 

 the leaf-stalk are almost exactly like white cotton-velvet : I shall easily 

 be able to get specimens of this. 



I have made an excursion to the Eotuiti Lake, which lies about fifty 

 miles to the southward of Nelson, but found very little there which 

 seemed new to me or likely to be of interest to you. On my way back 

 I was more fortunate. I ascended to the summit of the lofty range 

 which divides the valley of the Waimea and Wairau, and from a moun- 

 tain-top there, called Gordon's Nob, which is probably between 4000 

 and 5000 feet high, I gathered some plants which may be considered 

 as alpine in this country, and which I trust may be new to you. I 

 have not aimed, in sending you specimens, at presenting you with an 

 epitome of the 1^'lora of this district. The majority of the plants I have 



* A s^K'cies ()f Anisotome, li.f. t Acipkijlla squaryosa, Forst. 



