244 Transactions. 



Art. XXVIII. — Notes on the Plant-covering oj Pukeohaoka, Stewart Island. 



By D. L. POPPELWELL. 



[Bead before the Otago Institute, 7th September, 1915.] 



PuKEOKAOKA is One of tlie mutton-bird islands situated in Foveaux Strait. 

 It lies about ten miles from Half-moon Bay, and is passed on the trip from 

 BlufE to Stewart Island. It is rouglily triangular in shape, and its greatest 

 diameter is only about half a mile. It lies between Motunui and Here- 

 kopere, and is less than half a mile from the former and about one mile 

 from the latter. 



On the 1st January, 1915, 1 spent some hours on the island, accompanied 

 by my son, noting its vegetation. As the plant-covering difiers considerably 

 from that of Herekopere, a short description of it may prove of interest. 



The name Pukeokaoka was, according to Mr. J. Bragg, given to this 

 scrap of land by the Maoris because of the abundance on the island of the 

 tree-nettle Urtica jerox. This plant is called " ongaonga " in the North, 

 but the name is hardened to " okaoka " in the South. " Pukeokaoka " 

 should therefore be translated " nettle hill," a reasonable enough designation 

 for this island. The sides of the island are rocky, and consist of steep clifis 

 in several places. These are covered with vegetation. On the east side 

 there is a rough accumulation of large boulders, and it was on these that 

 we landed. 



Approaching the shore, the physiognomy shows a dull grey-green colour^ 

 with a smooth surface, although here and there can be seen a green patch. 

 This dull colour is brought about by the abundance of Olearia angustijolia 

 which fringes the water, and must in its season be a mass of white from 

 its beautiful blossoms. The greener patches consist of Veronica elliptica, 

 which is also fairly abundant on the chff-side. Where the cliffs are steep, 

 or a slip has occurred, great curtains of Tetragonia trigyna mantle the 

 surface, the reddish stems, and. where exposed to strong light, the red leaves, 

 contrasting strongly with the surrounding plants. 



Senecio rotundijolius is common in this association, and on a closer 

 view Stilhocarpa Lyallii peeps through in patches, its large leaves gi"\ang 

 a striking characteristic to the physiognomic appearance. 



The usual shore fern Aspleniian obtusatiini is also common among the 

 undergrowth, and Apiuni prostratum is not infrequent. On the steeper 

 clifis Mesemhryanthemum australe is common, its reddish stems and pink 

 flowers contrasting beautifully with its dark-green succulent leaves. 



On a more open part of the clifi-side the association consisted of Poa 

 Astoni, Linum monogynum, GnapJialium luteo-album, and Sonchus littoralis, 

 all growing very rankly, chiefly on account of the nesting habits of the 

 various petrels which frequent the island. The petrel-burrows serve to drain 

 and aerate the soil, while their droppings enrich it very much. 



As the hill was ascended Senecio lautus became common, and a few plants 

 of Scirpus nodosus (?) were noted, together with a mixed association con- 

 sisting, of Coprosma lucida, Rapanea Urvillei, Pittosporum Colensoi, Erechtites 

 prenanthoides, Sonchus littoralis, Muehlenheckia aicstralis, Hierochloe redolens, 

 Griselinia littoralis, and Polypodium diver sifolium. At first these plants 

 were very stunted, showing the efiect of the strong wind, but as the top 

 of the hill was reached they became taller, and a forest association 

 commenced. 



Among the scrub for considerable areas the fioor-covering consisted of 

 Polypodium diver sijolium as a pure association. On the edge of the forest 

 the scrub was about 12 ft. tall, and consisted chiefly of Rapanea Urvillei, 

 Coprosma lucida, C. areolata, together with the ferns Asplenimn lucidum 



