Herriott. — HiRforii of llaghij Park. 445 



being common to both. No iiRMnber of the Orchidaceae is actually found 

 in the Park now, though Microtis porrifolia was discovered on the road- 

 side quite near. Mr. Armstrong records that two s])«M-ics, Miciolis porrifolia 

 and Thelymitra longifolia. were common, and that Pferostt/lm Biotksii was 

 found in the swamp, which in his description of the localities always refers 

 to that swam]) now the site of Victoria Lake. He does not remember ever 

 coming across anv species of MueMe)iheclia complexa, which, therefore, never 

 formed a prominent member of the primitive vegetation of tliis district. 

 It is represented now by only one rather sickly-looking specimen on the 

 side of the ditch at the extreme south of South Park, and its i)resence 

 there may be accidental. All the shru])s given in list A have disa})peared, 

 unless a small jjlant of Coprosma robust a is excepted. This was considered 

 to be a garden escape. With the Discaria has gone Clematis marata. which 

 is usuallv found in closest association with it. Of the Ranunculaceae only 

 R. hirtiis is left, and it is found in only one place in South Park and is 

 in danger of extinction. Oarmichaelia suhulata, represented at most by 

 two plants, is also in like danger, its palatability to sheep having proved 

 inimical to its prolonged existence ; m fact, it is only very occasionally 

 that it can be found, owing ])artly to its position amongst the long grass, 

 but chiefly to its being so frequently eaten down. The Oxalis has already 

 been mentioned. Mr. Armstrong did not consider the species present in 

 the Park to be the native one. Epilobinm BiMardieriavum was found i)i 

 the Park, according to list A. In list B it is recorded as being found out- 

 side the actual. boundaries of the Park, but is included in the list as one 

 that probably occurred there originally. The three hydrocotyles occur on 

 both lists. DicJio)i(lra repens is rather disappointingly absent from list A. 

 It occurs on list B, and is found in great abundance on a waste sandy rise 

 in the Helmore Plantation. It flourishes there to the exclusion of all other 

 plants, introduced and native, its creeping stems enabling it to claim fresli 

 ground in ever-widening rings each year. It is still found on th<' Port Hills 

 in many parts, and is also found as a rather troublesome weed in many 

 gardens and lawns. Its presence may have been overlooked by Mr. Arm- 

 strong when he was compiling his list, or it may have been overshadowed 

 by other larger plants which have since from various causes died out, 

 leaving the territory free for this tenacious little plant. It is hardly 

 likely that it was absent altogether from the original vegetation, seeing 

 that it is so prevalent in other places. It is interesting to see that 

 Gnaphalium japonicuni was once more abundant than it is now. when 

 it is represented by only one jilant, at the side of Washboui'n"s Creek, and 

 is at different times eaten down and hard to find. Wahlerthergia gracilis is 

 now very difficult to find, but was once very cojnmon, as it still is on the 

 Port Hills and in other places. 



A comparison of these plants with those still found in areas which 

 presumably were covered by similar vegetation reveals the absence of some 

 that might quite pardonably have been expected to pei'sist. For instance, 

 the small grass Triodia exigaa is found on the Waimakariri River bed, 

 which greatly resembles the soil condition of certain parts of Hagley Park. 

 Carmichaelia nana is also common in the same locality, but apj)arently 

 quite absent from £he Park. 



The question arises as to the ultimate fate of these few natives that 

 have managed to hold their own through so many vicissitudes. Will they 

 all continue to maintain their existence in the struggle, or are they doomed 

 to extinction ? Those that are palatabh^ to the stock grazing in the Park 



