116 NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



The forest of the Auckland Islands consists for the most part 

 of the southern rata (Metrosideros lucida). The other associated 

 trees and shrubs are the haumakoroa (Nothopanax simplex), the evil- 

 smelling karaniu (Coprosma foetidissima), the inaka (Dracophyllum 

 longifolium), Coprosma ciliata, C. parviflora, Suttonia divaricata, and. 

 where the forest changes into scrub, Cassinia Vauvilliersii. The 

 extraordinary manner of growth of this society ; the close, even 

 foliage of its roof ; the twisted, far-reaching branches, semi-prostrate 

 and arching trunks, and consequent lowness of the trees, are plainly 

 the expressions of the tempestuous climate rigorous enough in many 

 ways, but never really cold (fig. 54). Within the shelter of the forest 

 quite other conditions exist, so here flourish those plants that love an 

 atmosphere saturated with moisture. As for the affinities of the forest, 

 they are subtropical and not subantarctic. Here, of all places, where 

 a beech (Nothofagus) forest might be expected, it is absent. 



In some few parts of these subantarctic islands namely, on Ewing 

 Island of the Auckland Group, to a limited extent on the north of 

 Auckland Island itself, and especially on the Snares are small woods 

 of another character. These are composed of the truly magnificent 

 daisy-tree (Olearia Lyallii), found only in these islands, but closely 

 related to 0. Colensoi of Stewart Island, the New Zealand Alps, and 

 the North Island mountains. 0. Lyallii has great leathery leaves, 

 which are green on the upper surface but pure white beneath, thus 

 affording a delightful contrast when they are stirred by the wind. 

 Probably this society is a modified remnant of the ancient forest of 

 that latitude and farther south, which during the great expansion south- 

 wards of New Zealand in later Tertiary times was driven into its 

 present narrow limits by the invading and more vigorous rata forest 

 of the north. The meadows of herbaceous plants, too, are possibly 

 to be similarly accounted for that is to say, they are a remnant of 

 the subantarctic meadows of long ago. 



On the Snares, mixed with 0. Lyallii, is the rare and beautiful 

 small tree, one of the shrubby groundsels (Senecio Stewartiae). Strange 

 to say, though this plant also occurs farther to the north, it has not 

 been found on Stewart Island proper, but only on some of the small 

 islands in its vicinity. 



Some of the seashore plants are very wonderful. Here, almost 

 to high-water mark, comes a splendid tussock-grass, Poa foliosa, with 

 broad green leaves. On the rocks, almost where the sea washes, 



