154 Transaction* . 



Brachycome Sinclairii Hook. f. On tracks. &c. 

 Raoidia glabra Hook. f. Dry places. 



australis Hook. f. Shingle-beds. 



Gnaphalium luteo-album L. Not uncommon. 



Lyallii Hook. f. Rocks. Martin's Bay. 



Helichrysum bellidioides (Forst. f.) Willd. Not plentiful. 



Craspedia uniflora Forst. f. var. robusta Hook. f. Common : Martin's Bay. 



Cotula dioica Hook. f. Open places ; common. 



Senecio elaeagnifolius Hook. f. Not plentiful. 



Art. XIV. -Notes of a Botanical Excursion, to Bunkers Island (Stewart 



Island) . 



By D. L. Poppelwell. 



[Read before tin Otago Institute, 12th June. 1917 ; received by Editor*. 22nd December, 

 1917: issued separately, '24tlt May, 1918.1 



On the 7th April, 1917, in company with Mr. 0. Biggar, of Croydon, I paid 

 a visit to Bunkers, one of the group of islands off the north-east coast of 

 Stewart Island. This scrap of land lies to the eastward of Herekopere, 

 and is one of the Fancy Group. It is only about 700 metres long, with an 

 average width of less than 100 metres. The highest point above sea-level 

 is about 35 metres. The eastern end is a separate island at high tide, and 

 in another part the island is almost cut in two hy the action of the sea. 

 The geological formation consists of rotten granite, a good deal of it being 

 simply a sort of gritty clay. The sea has eaten into this soft material on 

 the southern side, with the result that there are several slips and cliffs there, 

 all of which show much recent denudation. Mr. C. Hansen, of Half-moon 

 Bay, informs me that there is comparatively shallow water on the south 

 and south-west of the island, which suggests that at no distant date the 

 island Avas larger than at present. 



Ecological Conditions. 



In common with all other islands of the Stewart Group, Bunkers is subject 

 to a high rainfall, with high winds, but a comparatively mild and equable 

 temperature. On this island there is only a thin coating of peat. Probably 

 it is on this account that there is but little evidence of bird traffic so far as 

 the burrowing petrels are concerned, although penguins were not uncommon. 

 The edaphic conditions and the exposed situation combine to prevent any 

 extent of forest vegetation, although there are not wanting signs of a one- 

 time forest formation. Probably when the island was larger such a forma- 

 tion existed, but the present plant- covering might be called a " scrub " 

 association. 



Plaxt-formations. 



These may be divided under the heads of " scrub " and " rocks and 

 cliffs," but with a view to saving space I do not intend to do more than 

 outline the associations. 



The physiognomy of the scrub shows a smooth exterior, and has the 

 usual grey-green colour of the Olearia- Senecio association of the Stewart 

 Botanical District. Olearia angustifoUa is the commonest plant near the 

 sea, but Senecio rotundifolia and Veronica elliptica are common. Curious 

 to relate, Olearia Colensoi, so common in similar associations on the islands 

 in the vicinity, appears to be absent. Here and there Stilbocarpa Lyallii is 

 seen in patches, and also the common coastal ferns Asplenium lucidum and 



