22 XKW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



large measure by the labours of Di. A. Sinclair, R.N., Mr. J. T. Bid- 

 well, Dr. Monro, Mr. W. T. L. Travers, Sir Julius von Haast, Sir James 

 Hector, and Mr. J. Buchanan. Other collectors and botanists also 

 did excellent work not only in the alpine region, but in other parts ; 

 but space forbids further details, w r ith the exception of mentioning 

 the work of Dr. L. Lindsay, who botanized in eastern Otago, and 

 published a most interesting account of that district. 



Dr. Sinclair collected in various parts of the North Island and in 

 the mountains of Nelson. He was associated with Haast in an explora- 

 tion of the Rangitata, but was drowned in attempting to ford that 

 treacherous river. ' Near the banks of the river, just where it 

 emerges from the Alps, with the perpetual snowfields glistening in the 

 sun, amidst veronicas and senecios, and covered with celmisias and 

 gentians, there lies his lonely grave," writes Haast. Sir J. Hooker 

 considered Sinclair as only second to Colenso as a botanical explorer, 

 which is indeed high praise. 



Mr. Bidwill's explorations began so early as 1839. He made the 

 first collection of alpine plants in New Zealand, in what is now the 

 Tongariro National Park, and an interesting account of his travels 

 appears in his little book, ' Rambles in New Zealand," which was 

 published in 1841. Forstera BidwiUu and other plants bear his 

 name. 



The extremely interesting mountains of Nelson, whose flora differs 



/ 



in many respects from that of the dividing-range farther south, and 

 has affinities with the North Island mountains, were explored, inde- 

 pendently of one another, by Monro and Travers, and also by Bidwill, 

 each adding considerably to our knowledge of the species of flowering- 

 plants. The name of Monro is seen in many species of plants, and 

 after Travers was called the genus Traversia, which is now, however, 

 merged in Senecio. 



Sir Julius von Haast first made known the alpine flora of Canter- 

 bury, and in part of Westland, which is still largely a terra incognita, 

 making every use of his opportunities as Provincial Geologist. 

 According to Hooker, he contributed more new species to the flora 

 than any collector since Colenso. The name of a genus, Haast ia, is a 

 slight tribute to his exertions. 



Farther south, Sir James Hector and Mr. J. Buchanan performed 

 a large amount of careful and arduous work, and made known for the 

 first time the botany of the Otago lake district. Buchanan also 



