Adams. — On the Botamj of To Moehau. 39 



jt was often doubtful what was the real summit of the ridge 

 until another ascent and a favourable opening revealed the 

 highest peak looming in the distance. 



When sunset was near we followed down a dry water- 

 course for a couple of hundred yards, and found a water-hole. 

 We camped near it for the two nights we were on the 

 mountain, and I was surprised to notice, as we left the place, 

 that the mere requirements for beds and fuel had so exhausted 

 the number of trees and ferns that the camping-place looked 

 like a clearing. The Gahnia, Freycinetia, and Bhipogonum 

 that grow so densely on the ridge do not flourish on the clay- 

 slate that is in loose shingle on the sides. The scanty bush 

 covers what had for ages been extensive shingle-slopes. 



The ordinary plants are Melicytus ramiflorus, Schefflcra digi- 

 tata, Br achy glottis repanda, Arcca sapida, Hemitelia smithii, 

 and AspidiiLin aculcatum. Polypodium pennigerum grows very 

 large and stalked. I saw Lomaria nigra in two places, but I 

 looked in vain for Loxsoma cnmiinghami and Lomaria clon- 

 gata. 



The next morning we followed up the dry bed of another 

 watercourse, that brought us nearer to the peak, and on reach- 

 ing the summit our work began. In addition to the under- 

 growth that was experienced before, Alscuosmia and Coprosma 

 fmtidissima formed dense thickets on the ridge, and of course 

 there was no such thing as walking. We had literally 

 to thread our way. If the explorer be regarded as a long 

 needle, his progress past the vegetation will closely resemble 

 darning. The dense tangle appeared to get worse and worse, 

 when we suddenly struggled on to a mass of Metrosideros 

 alhiflora, and there close at hand was open ground and the 

 rounded peak covered with stunted vegetation. Several large 

 flat rocks hoary with Racoviitrinm moss were close to the 

 ■dense bush, and on these were growing in great profusion 

 Celmisia incana in full flower. Every step in the open ground 

 not only showed that the vegetation was a contrast to that 

 •on the ridge, but also that it was unlike that of any other 

 high peak on the main range throughout the peninsula. 

 I could scarcely believe my eyes as each fresh plant that I 

 saw seemed to sho^y that I was on the top of one of the 

 moimtains in Nelson Province. There are patches of Oreobo- 

 Ztcs and Garpha alpina, studded with the mountain form of 

 'Oiirisia macrophylla. Tufts of Fentachondra and Cyathodes 

 cmpetrifolia are conspicuous on the little mounds of peat, and 

 then the largest part of the surface of the ground is carpeted 

 with lycopods, the alpine forms of Gleichenia dicarpa and of 

 Danthonia semiannidaris. 



The MOehau peak is a rounded mass of augitic andesite 

 intruded between the slate formation of which the mountain 



