PoppELWBLL. — Flant-covering of Pukeokaoka . 245 



and Polystichum vestitum, and the climbing-plants Rhipogonum scandens 

 and Ruhus australis. The floor of the forest was covered for considerable 

 areas with Polystichum vestitum, Asplenium lucidum, and Stilhocarpa Lyallii, 

 and occasional patches of Blechnum durum from 8 ft. to 10 ft. in diameter 

 were seen. 



The forest consisted of Metrosideros lucida, Schefflera digitata, Pittosporum 

 Colensoi, Aristotelia racemosa, Fuchsia excorticata, Melicytus lanceolatus, 

 Nothopanax Edgerleyi, Griselinia littoralis, Carpodetus serratus, and Veronica 

 elliptica. The undergrowth was 3 ft. or 4 ft. high, and consisted of 

 Asplenium hulbijerum, A. flaccidum, A. scleroprium, A. lucidum, Poly- 

 stichum vestitum, and Polypodium diver sifolium, while Rhipogonum scandens 

 was common. 



The interior of this forest presents a tangled mass of Rhipogonum, 

 through which can be seen the crooked trunks of the forest-trees, grey 

 with lichens and mosses. Metrosideros lucida grows about 30 ft. high, and 

 Coprosma areolata here forms a straight tree about 20 ft. high, with a trunk 

 6 in. in diameter. Urtica ferox was also growing rankly in this forest. It 

 was about 6 ft. tall, and had leaves 9 in. or 10 in. long, including the petiole 

 of 2 in. to 3 in. The only tree-fern was Dicksonia squarrosa. Epiphytes 

 were not common, but consisted principally of the ferns Asplenium flaccidum 

 and Polypodium diver sifolium. A. lucidum was noted growing on Dicksonia 

 squarrosa and also on the sloping trunks of Metrosideros lucida. 



Near a cliff-edge I noted Hypolepis tenuifolia, Calystegia tuguriorum, 

 Stellaria media, Apium prostratum, Carex trifida, and Poa imhecilla. On 

 this steep side Urtica ferox was also very plentiful, associated with Muehlen- 

 heckia australis. 



At the northern end of the island there is a steep cliff exposed less to 

 the prevailing south-west wind and subject to more direct sunlight. The 

 principal vegetation here consisted of Veronica elliptica (common), Apium 

 prostratum (in patches), Mesembyranthemum australe (plentiful), with quan- 

 tities of Tetragonia trigyna, Muehlenheckia australis, Linum monogynum, 

 and Poa Astoni. Several strong-growing patches of Hierochloe redolens 

 in full bloom were also noted, with Sonchus littoralis, Dichelachne crinita, 

 Halorrhagis erecta, and Lepidium oleraceum var. acutidentatum. Through- 

 out these plants the burrows of the petrels were very plentiful. 



Summary, 



The top of this island is almost flat, and is perhaps less than 200 ft. 

 high. The peat seems much drier than on Herekopere, and is apparently 

 deeper. There does not, on the whole, appear to be nearly so mucli 

 evidence of bird traffic, except on the steep sides. The difference in the 

 vegetation is quite marked, inasmuch as there is here a " forest " asso- 

 ciation which is entirely absent from Herekopere. (See my "Notes of a 

 Botanical Visit to Herekopere Island," Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 47, pp. 142-44, 

 1915.) 



The absence of Poa foliosa and Senecio Stewartiae from Pukeokaoka is 

 also strange, as these plants are a marked feature of Herekopere, only about 

 a mile distant. Possibly they grow here also, and were overlooked by me ; 

 but, if so, they are certainly rare. The only way I can account for the 

 absence of these plants is by suggesting that the close forest formation of 

 Pukeokaoka has prevented them getting a hold. Poa foliosa seems to be 

 present on all the exposed parts of the mutton-bird islands where the scrub 

 is unable to exist, but does not grow where the light has not full access. 

 The restricted habitat of these plants is of more than passing interest. 



As the plants noted are all mentioned in the text, I have not appended 

 a list. 



