PLANTS OF THE OUTLYING ISLANDS. 117 



are large green cushions of Colobanthus muscoides, hard as those of the 

 vegetable sheep ; and near by will be frequently seen the shining green 

 rosettes of a species of plantain (Plantago carnosa ?}. Close by, where 

 the kelp heaves on the restless waters, swims, quite fearless of man, 

 as it has done for ages, the little flightless duck. From the cliffs droop 

 green draperies of a most strange pale-green, soft-leaved grass (Poa 

 rdmosissima], while their summits are crowned with the sweet-scented 

 Veronica ettiptica. On the flat rocks beneath stands, sentinel-like, 

 the Auckland Island shag, conspicuous with its glistening black back, 

 spotless white breast, and flesh-coloured feet ; and accompanying it is 

 the pretty little mackerel-gull, with dove-coloured back, white head 

 and breast, and brilliant red legs and beak. 



The herbaceous plants are the special glory of the islands. Sir 

 Joseph Hooker has declared that outside the tropics no such floral 

 display is to be seen in any area of the same size. The monarch of 

 all is a majestic plant of the daisy family (Pleurophylhun speciosum}, 

 the genus being purely subantarctic, though related to the asters of 

 gardens. The leaves are of great size, and all are corrugated. In colour 

 and general appearance they somewhat resemble pale-green velvet or 

 plush, and they are so arranged at times as to look like shallow 

 goblets. These are striking enough ; but when the beautiful purple 

 flower-heads are raised high above the leaves, dozens at a time, side 

 by side, the spectacle is magnificent. There are perhaps three other 

 species of the same family. One (P. Hooker i], with silvery leaves just 

 tinged with green, dotting the upland meadows as far as the eye can 

 reach, is a charming-enough sight. But how intensified is the beauty 

 when there are present in large numbers, and also in full bloom, a 

 fine yellow buttercup (Ranunculus pinyuis) ; gentians pink, violet, and 

 crimson (Gentiana cerina) ; the blue Veronica Benthami : the gorgeous 

 orange-coloured liliaceous plant Bulbinella Rossii ; the prince of forget- 

 me-nots, its blossoms ultramarine (Myosotis ca pit at a] ; and mats of the 

 stiff rosettes of Celmisia vernicosa, the leaves like polished greenstone, 

 and bearing many fine flower-heads with purple centres and white 

 rays. Other magnificent plants are two of the carrot family, with great 

 masses of close-growing purple blossom (Aciphylla lati folia and A. 

 antipoda), the former w r ith leaves reaching to the middle of one's 

 thigh ; and a close ally Stilbocarpa polaris, whose massive creeping 

 stem afforded a valuable food for the unfortunate castaways of the 

 " Dundonald." 



