T. KiKK. — On the Prochicts of a Batlast-heap. 503 



appearance unless the surface should be disturbed. The 

 species still to be found, although ia small quantity only, are 

 Erodium malacoides and GJienopodiwm ambrosiokhs, of each of 

 which a few specimens are making a good fight against the 

 coarser weeds ; Petunia parviflora, now represented by three 

 small plants only ; and the plant here identified as Aster im- 

 bricatus, which has increased to a small extent : it may be 

 expected to become permanent, together with the Erodium, 

 although the latter is too much at the mercy of accident. 



Amongst the plants developed on the ballast are three in- 

 digenous to New Zealand, although extending to other coun- 

 tries. DicJwndra repens, Forst., made its appearance in small 

 quantity during the first year, but plentifully the second year, 

 and in small quantity last year ; this year it is not in evi- 

 dence. It has a wide distribution in temperate and extra- 

 tropical countries in the Southern Hemisphere, so that its 

 reintroduction from South America is not a matter for sur- 

 prise. Another species, Cotula coronopifolia, is still more 

 widely distributed, as it extends to Europe, and occurs in a 

 naturalised condition in the British Islands : its range 

 appears to be extending. 



Cotula australis, Hook, f., has, however, a more limited 

 distribution, being apparently confined to New Zealand, Aus- 

 tralia, and Tristan d'Acunha. Unless, like its congener, C. 

 coronopifolia, ir is becoming naturalised in distant countries, 

 the seeds must have been mixed with the ballast in Welling- 

 ton, although this is somewhat improbable. 



Emex australis did not appear after the first year. This 

 South African plant requires a warmer climate than that of 

 Wellington. In Queensland and other tropical countries it 

 has become a great pest : on two occasions it made its appear- 

 ance in the Auckland District, but did not prove permanent. 



I append a list of the plants collected on the ballast and on 

 the soil where it was deposited during the last three years : — 



Note. — Species not previously observed in the colony are distinguished 

 thus (*), and those not previously observed in the Wellington Provincial 

 District thus (f). 



FUMARIACE^. 



Fumaria muralis, Sonder. 



Crucifer^. 



Barbarea praecox, B. Br. 

 Sisymbrium officinale, L. 

 Brassica napus, L. 

 Capsella bursa-pastoris, DC. 

 Senebiera coronopus, Poiret. 



„ didyma, Pers. 



Lepidium ruderale, L. 



