278 Transactions. — Botany. 



be borne in mind that the term -'dry" is here merely com- 

 parative. 



The soil of the formation as a whole consists of spon<iy 

 peat, which is elastic underfoot. The surface is at first 

 gently sloping, but becomes steeper as one proceeds up the 

 mountain-side. Except within the gullies, and these in con- 

 sequence tilled with scrub, all the hillsides of Campbell Island 

 must be much wind-swept; indeed, it seems evident that 

 wind is here, as on the uplands of Auckland Island, the de- 

 termining factor as to whether arborescent or grassy growth 

 shall predominate. 



4. Subalpine Tussock Meadow. 



The presence of this formation, aiid also those next to be 

 considered, probably depends upon the greater severity of the 

 climate, arising from frosts being much more severe and of 

 very much longer duration than at a lower level, the fre- 

 quency of such frost unaccompanied by snow, the greater 

 exposure to winds — these at times must be of the most ex- 

 treme severity — and, finally, the smaller amount of sunshine 

 and the almost constant presence of mist. The soil of this 

 formation is similar to that of the lower tussock meadow. 



The dominant plant, as in the subalpine meadow of Auck- 

 land Island, is Danthonia hromoides, in many places growing 

 very thickly. Between the tussocks are large quantities of 

 Pleurophyllum hookeri, in winter its leaves projecting above 

 the ground to a height of rb 7 cm., and the leaf-blaiies of 

 the previous year, 17 cm. x 7 em., forming a decaymg mass 

 spread out radially round the plant. Creeping over the sur- 

 face of the ground are in many places considerable breadtiis 

 of Coprosma repens, while HelicJirysmu prostratum, Nertera 

 deprcssa, Stcllaria decipiens, Epilohiuvi linnceoides, Epilohium 

 confer tif oil I t7n, and Lycopodium fastigiatum are common. As 

 in the lowland tussock, Aspidimn restitum and bushes of 

 Coprosiiuts give an additional character to the pliysiogiiomy 

 of the formation. Where the ground is wettest Sphagnum 

 appears, and in conjunction with this bog-moss are a number 

 of other plants, some of which are truly bog-plants, while 

 others are prominent members of very difi'erent formations. 

 Of the above plants the most strikmg are tlie large, bright- 

 green, hard cushions of Phyllachne clavigera, patches of Hy- 

 meno2)hyllHm miUtifiduvi with curled-up fronds, as previously 

 described for the subalpine meadow of .Vuckland Island, Co- 

 proHina repens, nmch-stunted Coprosma bushes, Pleurophylliivi. 

 hookeri, Plenrop. speciosum, Epilobmm confcrtifoliinn, large 

 patches of Bulhinclla rossii, and very many lichens. 



Of these plants the only one which needs detailed treat- 

 ment here is Pleurophyllum hookeri, which is by far tlie most 



