502 Transactions. — Botamj. 



these do not enter into the scope of this paper to any material 

 extent. Attention must be directed specially to the twenty 

 species not hitherto observed in the colony, and to the few not 

 previously known to occur in the Wellington Provincial District. 



In October, 1893, after the removal of the ballast, the 

 newly-pared surface soon became clothed with a robust growth 

 of the purslane, Portulaca oleracea, Chenopoclium avibrosioides^ 

 Panicum crus-galU, and other plants not previously seen under 

 spontaneous conditions in Wellington. From its bright-yellow 

 flowers, which were produced in great abundance, the purslane 

 was remarkably prominent ; but, as its showy corollas invariably 

 closed immediately after the hour of noon, the dull appearance 

 of the area in the afternoon formed a remarkable contrast 

 with its morning brightness. Amongst these plants were 

 others of great rarity, although very inconspicuous : Petunia 

 ;parviflora, Euiohorhia ovalifolia, Bo2ibieva multifida, Nicotiana 

 acutiflora, Eragrostis minor, Acicarj^ha trib^Uoides, Setaria 

 imberbis, nearly all of which are natives of South America. 

 Scarcely any of these were to be seen before the ballast was 

 removed. Amongst the plants of the first year were Cheno- 

 2:>odium ficifoUmn, Emex australis, Alternanthera sessilis, 

 Galinsoga parviflora, Ecliium ylantagrneuvi, Ceiiia tnrbinata, 

 Bowlesia tenera, Gichorium endivium, none of which made 

 their appearance the second year except the Chenopodium, 

 which occurred in some quantity, and was represented by a 

 few straggling specimens last year, although not a scrap is to 

 be seen at this date. In all probability the soil would still be 

 productive if slightly broken up to the depth of a few inches. 



Xanthiwn strumarium made its appearance the first year, 

 numerous specimens were observed during the second year, 

 and four or five were seen last year. When growing on the 

 stiff clay it assumed a stout, robust appearance, differing widely 

 from its usual appearance in Europe. None of the Wellington 

 specimens exhibited the luxuriance shown by those of Austra- 

 lian growth, and, as it does not develope flowers and fruit until 

 March and April, it is scarcely probable that it will become 

 permanently established in this part of the colony. It would 

 doubtless have a more favourable chance on the light soils of 

 the Auckland Isthmus. Boubipva multifida assumed a very 

 robust growth, and there seemed some probability of its being 

 able to maintain its existence, although it failed to ripen seeds, 

 as several strong plants w^ere growing at the commencement 

 of March, but most of them disappeared during the winter 

 months, probably from injuries caused by cattle quite as much 

 as by the severe frost. As the area is now mostly covered 

 with a thick growth of common weeds, intermixed with 

 patches of cocksfoot, meadow-grass, and rye-grass, there is 

 but little probability of the rarer species again making their 



