100 Floristik und Systematik der Phanerogamen. 



and Macquarie Island, form the Southern Islands o{ New 

 Zealand lying between 54« 44' and 47" 43' S. latitude, and 159M9' and 

 179" E. longitude in the South Pacific Ocean. An introduction 

 summarises the botanical investigation of these islands from the early 

 work of Hombron and Jacquinot in the French expedition of 1839, 

 and Hook er in the Ross expedition of 1840. Each group of islands is 

 dealt with as regards physical features and Vegetation, special attention 

 being given to the natural plant formations and the effect of the intro- 

 duction of foreign plants and animals on these. 



The Auckland Islands (p. 231— 267). This group is 27 miles 

 long and 15 miles broad, but it attains an altitude of from 450 to 600 

 metres on the main ridge; the coasts are much indented and in many 

 parts precipitous. The islands are volcanic in origin and consist chiefly 

 of basaltic lava and tufa. The climatic features are : rain almost every 

 day ; moisture passes easily into the peaty soil and does not readily 

 evaporate owing to almost constant cloudy skies; winds are frequent 

 and often furious ; the winter climate is mild, milder than the Canterbury 

 Plains in South New Zealand. The following plant formations are 

 recognised: 1. Sand dunes, 2. Coastal rocks^ 3. Forest, 4. Lowland tussock, 

 5. Pleiirophylliim meadow, 6. Sub-alpine meadow, 7. Sub-alpine scrub. 

 Sand dunes were seen only onEnderby Island; the Vegetation con- 

 sists chiefly of Tilloea moschata, Ranunculus acaulis, Riiinex neglectus, 

 and a moss (not identified) which is very abundant. The habit and 

 growth of Epilobiiiin confertifolium Hook, fil., a species endemic to the 

 Southern Islands^ and occuring in shaded gullies in the sand dunes, 

 is described. The principal maritime formation is that found on the flat 

 coastal rocks and precipitous cliffs. Poa ramosissima Hook, fils forms 

 large light-green masses in wet places; Festuca scoparia Hook, fils 

 occupies the peat covered ledges; Lomaria dura Moore and Asplenium 

 obtusatiim Forst, also form dense masses; Cotula pliimosa Hook, fils, C. 

 lanata Hook, fils and a Plantago sp. are prominent social species. 

 Owing to the great storms and high seas, the coastal zone is a broad 

 one. Descriptions are given of the life-forms of the following endemic 

 species : Cotula lanata Hook, fils, Colobanthus muscoides Hook, fils, 

 Plantago sp._, Poa ramosissima Hook, fils^ and Urtica aucklandica Hook, 

 fils. The forest formation exhibits two distinct types: a) Metrosideros or 

 „Rata" forest, b) Olearia lyallii forest. The Rata formation forms a belt 

 of evergreen trees and shrubs extending round much of the coast, espe- 

 cially in the sheltered inlets. The forest consists of Metrosideros lucida 

 A. Rieh., and Dracophyllum longifolium R. Br., with an undergrowth of 

 Suttonia divaricata Hook, fils, Coprosma foelidissima Forst, and a semi- 

 arborescent fern Aspidium vestitum. The Metrosideros may be 5 metres 

 high, with prostrate trunks and gnarled branches, crowned by a broad 

 and dense flattened head. The forest floor is wet peat, bare in many 

 places probably owing to the wallowing of numerous sea lions which 

 frequent the forest. The trees are xerophytic in character, but the under- 

 growth in the moist shade is hydrophytic. The common New Zealand 

 tree-fern Hemitelia Smithii was discovered here, and the record extends 

 the ränge of tree-ferns much further to the south than previously known. 

 The Olearia lyallii forest is peculiar to the sheltered coast region of the 

 Suares and Auckland Islands. 



The trees measure from 6 to 9 metres^ some are erect, others are 

 prostrate in the lower part. The leaves are large, thick, and covered 

 with dense white down on the lower surface. Seedlings are abundant on 

 the forest floor. Veronica elliptica Forst, forms pale green clumps 

 amongst the Olearia. There is little or no undergrowth on the peaty 

 forest floor. 



The Lowland Tussock formation occurs on wet peat. It con- 

 sists of a tussock grass (species not identified) with long trunks or pede- 

 stals about 1,5 m. high, with a crown of drooping leaves; the author 

 States that the trunks absorb water and thus render the plants indepen- 

 dent of the acid water of the boggy peat. 



