Cockayne. — Botanical Excursion to Southern Islands. 295 



the meadow, and where genuine bog-conditions prevail. Such 

 patches can be recognised at a glance (see PI. XX.) by the 

 difference of their vegetation, which has a physiognomy of 

 its own, quite distinct from that of the meadow which sur- 

 rounds them, and from which the bogs are divided by quite a 

 sharp hne. If a number of such bogs be examined it will 

 be found that, though they do not all contain their members in 

 exactly the same proportion, there is a most striking simi- 

 larity between them all, separated though they are by large 

 patches of meadow. 



That which at first glance most distinguishes the bog from 

 the meadow is the large amount of Carex ternaria in the bog, 

 the almost complete absence of tussock-grass, and the pre- 

 sence of Pleurophylluvi cnniferum, which, with its very large 

 leaves and striking flowers, must in summer much more em- 

 phasize the distinct character of this formation. Certain of 

 the other plants also are much more abundant in the bog 

 than m the meadow, although frequent enough in this latter. 

 These are Ligustic2im antijwdum, Coprosma rcpens, Coprosma 

 cuneata, Stilbocarpa polaris, Hymenophyllimi viultifidum. 



The soil of the bog is peat quite saturated with water, so 

 that water can be readily wrung out of it, and if a small hole 

 be made in the ground it quickly tills with water. Sometimes 

 the centre of the bog may be occupied by a pool of dark peaty 

 water. 



Perhaps the most characteristic plant is Garex ternaria. 

 At the time of my visit its brown leaves lay prostrate upon 

 the ground, green only at their bases. Here and there Mar- 

 chantia sp. covers the wettest ground, in company with a small 

 moss and a leafy liverwort. Many plants of Ligusiicwm 

 antijiodum, either dotted about or in clumps, grow amongst 

 the Carex. Such isolated plants have their leaves spreading 

 out radiall}^ and are 40 cm. tall. The surface of the bog 

 consists of little elevations and hollows. In the hollows 

 grow Luzula crinita of robust growth, Marchantia sp., many 

 lichens, tufts of Gentiana antipoda. Considerable patches 

 of ground are frequently occupied by Hymenophyllum multi- 

 fidum, the fronds curled up and of a reddish-brown colour. 

 In other places a dense green carpet of Goyrosma repens 

 covers the ground, or mixed with it may be lichens and the 

 filmy fern. In most of the bogs Aspidium vestitum is pre- 

 sent, and occasionally in the driest parts are a few plants 

 of the tussock. Here and there the apices of the leaves of 

 Pleurophyllum crinlferuvi just protrude from the ground. 

 Goprosma cuneata of very dwarf stature is quite plentiful in 

 some places. It creeps close to the ground, and its small 

 leaves are in winter quite brown. Uncinia riparia pseudo- 

 rupestris is common in some places. 



