Floristik und Systematik der Phanerogamen. 645 



CocKAYNE, L., Notes on the subalpine scrub ofMountTyffe. 

 (Trans. N.' Zealand Inst. XXXVllI. 1905. Publ. 1906. p. 361 

 —374.) 



Although the „scrub" of New Zealand has several features 

 in common: the author distinguishes the sub-alpine scrub from the 

 coastal scrub and the river-terrace scrub. The sub-alpine scrub 

 forms a distinct zone on mountains of New Zealand between the 

 Upper limit of the forest, and the sub-alpine meadow; it occurs in 

 the stony beds of glacial rivers near their sources, also on nioraines; 

 it is found in greatest perfection where the rainfall is frequent and 

 abundant. The adaptations of the shrubs include: a) dense habit, 

 with closely interlaced branches and small leaves; b) hard and stiff 

 leaves, very frequently clothed with tomentum on under surface; 

 c) vertical needle-shaped leaves at the extremities of stiff, erect, 

 naked branches; d) leaves reduced to scale-like organs; e) recurving 

 of leaf-margin. The formation includes shrubby species of Veronica, 

 ComposUai\ Epacridaceae, Rubiaceae, etc. ; a list of plants occurring 

 in the sub-alpine scrub is given in the paper. The author proposes 

 the term sub-alpine scrub as the English translation ofSchimper's 

 „Krummholz und Gesträuch" and D i e 1 ' s „Knieholz". The main part of 

 the paper is a descriptioii of the sub-alpine scrub of Mount Tyffe 

 (1624 metres) one of the lower peaks of the Seaward Kaikouras, 

 ränge of mountains in the Marlborough district (South 

 Island, N. Z.). A smaller number of species are found here than 

 in the typical sub-alpine scrub. Cassina albida is everywhere the 

 dominant plant, and in places is almost pure; this species is pe- 

 culiar to these uiountains and the author describes two forms — 

 the type form whit scanty tomentum, and var. canescens which has 

 a mat of fine white hairs on the upper surface of the leaf. Floristic 

 and ecological details are given of two plants peculiar to these 

 mountains; Rannnciiliis lobiilatiis an important element of the under- 

 growth; and Olearla coriacea a marked xerophilous shrub with an 

 adult and a „jugend" form. W. G. Smith (Leeds). 



CocKAYNE, L., On a specific case of leaf-varination in Co- 

 prosma Bauern. (Trans. N. Zealand Inst. XXXVIll. 1905. Publ. 

 1906. p. 341—344. 1 Plate.) 



This plant is a flattened prostrate shrub in its coast stations, 

 but Inland and under cultivation its habit is very different. The 

 plate shows this contrast. The coast leaves are fleshy, glossy green 

 on the upper surface, pale beneath, and with margins recurved. The 

 shade leaves of cultivated plants are larger, slightly thinner, and 

 flat. Other cases of New Zealand plants showing similar vari- 

 ations are given, and the bearing of these on the definition of species 

 is discussed. W. G. Smith (Leeds). 



COCKAYNE, L., On the supposed Mount Bonpland habitat of 

 Celmisia Llndsayi. (Trans. N. Zealand Inst. XXXVIll. 1905. 

 Publ. 1906. p. 345—349.) 



The indentity of this species, found originally on the coast of 

 Otago, and plants from the Humboldt Mountains, has been 

 disputed : the author gives the results of an external and internal 

 comparison of forms from the two habitats. The tomentum of the 

 lower surface of the leaf is identical, but there are slight differences 

 in the shape of the leaves, the coast plants being longer and narrower 



