THE MEADOWS. 



99 



Closely related to the shingle-slips, so far as the conditions for 

 plant-life go, are the scoria-slopes of the volcanoes of the central 

 plateau of the North Island. But on these the plant-life is still more 

 scanty. Except Claytonia australasica, which, strange to say, is also 

 a plant found in shallow running water, all the South Island shingle- 

 slip plants are wanting. In their place is a true alpine gem, Veronica 

 spatlndata, which possesses a root of enormous length, small succulent 

 leaves close to the cinders, and in summer is altogether covered with 

 multitudes of snow-white flowers, which quite hide the foliage (fig. 49). 



& ' >- > iJ<<>fe*'' -C* v *^' ? ! ^T -- 



FIG. 47. The Vegetable-sheep (RaouUa eximia), a rather small example, growing 

 on rock rising from shingle-slip. Mount Torlesse, Canterbury. 



[Photo, L. Cockayne. 



Another veronica forms large mats, chiefly in the shelter of rocks 

 (V. Hooker iana). It also is very pretty with its lilac flowers raised 

 on moderate-si/ed stalks above the foliage. But the plant par 

 excellence of the scoria deserts of the region in question and 

 they are deserts in all truth is a species of Dracophyllum (D. re- 

 curvum), with stiff recurved leaves at the end of prostrate rigid naked 

 branches. The shrub as a whole is of a reddish, colour, and gives a 

 characteristic stamp to the dreary landscape. 



