268 NOTES ON THE BOTANY 
the solitary specimen discovered was unfortunately lost) 
Stylidia, Cheilanthes, Lichens and other plants, while the few 
woody species are wholly concealed in the glens. 
Above this again comes the Alpine Region, wholly con- 
fined to the summits of the hills. No other is equally 
distinctly marked as to botanical limits, probably owing 
to the existence of several long low ledges of rocks, which 
are basaltic, and some of them columnar, and which 
produce a peculiar vegetation, partly indeed subalpine; 
but the following plants do not appear to descend below 
them, except indeed the two Composite above-mentioned, 
which, like the Thrift and Rose-root of Europe, seem to be 
both alpine and maritime. Ranunculus two species, Carda- 
mine, Acena, Geranium (!) Potentilla, Araliacea, Gentiana, 
Plantago, four Composite, Epilobium, two Junci, Hierochloe, 
Agrostis, Lycopodium, Andrea, Didymodon, Conostomum, 
Bartramia, Bryum, Polytrichum, with many other Mosses 
and some Lichens. In Lord Auckland’s Islands an Aspho- 
delous plant is very abundant, holding the place of Narthe- 
cium in our northern hemisphere; it grows from the sea- 
shore to an elevation of 800 feet above the level of the sea, 
and is extremely handsome, forming a conspicuous feature | 
in the landscape from its great profusion; which is indeed 
so remarkable in some places, that at the distance of a quarter 
of a mile, the ground seems spangled with gold through its 
yellow blossoms. These, moreover, exhale a slight but 
agreeable fragrance. Three species of Veronica are also 
showy, especially the maritime one, owing to the abun- 
dance of its flowers, which make the tree look as if powdered. 
_ The blue of the alpine species is very intense, and some- 
times is a bright blue azure. The Sea-side Gentian is as 
lovely a plant as can be imagined, with most delicate in- 
florescence and foliage that has a waxy appearance. Two of 
the Composite were among the handsomest productions of the 
island. Notwithstanding, however, the beauty of these and 
some others, the general aspect of the vegetation is sombre 
and of a much browner tint than even in Van Dieman's 
