Poppelwell. — Plant Covering, Codfish Island and Rugged Islands. 79 



Astelia nervosa, and Stilbocarpa Lyallii. The last-mentioned was growing 

 in large colonies in several places visible from the sea. Its magnificent 

 leaves, from actual measurement, attained 17 in. in width, and the plants 

 were over 3 ft. tall. Gradually as the rock-face was receded from and the 

 soil became more peaty the scrub became more mixed, until it ultimately 

 merged into forest. An almost similar formation to that described above 

 apparently covers the seaward base of the Kuggedy Mountains, and extends 

 round the north-west coast of the mainland of Stewart Island, although 

 the northern coast seems to want the Olearia angustifolia altogether. Of 

 this latter fact I am not certain, as I did not land, and was scarcely close 

 enough inshore to be sure. 



The Hugged Islands vegetation may all be described under this heading, 

 as the islands are nothing more than great rocks. The cliff-faces for 

 hundreds of feet are absolutely bare where the full blast of the south- 

 western winds strikes them, but on the northern and eastern sides, where 

 there is a little shelter, the cliffs are covered, as before mentioned, with 

 a close mat of Olearia angustifolia. In places Veronica elliptica clings to 

 the rocks, with some plants of Phormium Cookianum and a few tussock- 

 grasses. An occasional stunted plant of Metrosideros lucida appears to 

 maintain a precarious existence on the higher points, with a specimen or 

 two of Olearia Colensoi, and probably some Senecio rotundifolius. Anistome 

 intermedia and some of the smaller plants also appear in the crevices. 

 The dominant feature, however, of these wild and inhospitable rock-faces 

 is Olearia angustifolia, which is flattened against the cliffs in small and 

 stunted growth in the stormy area, and in proportion as shelter is found 

 in the nooks it becomes larger, and covers the nakedness of the rocks with 

 a grey-green mantle. 



(3.) The Forest. 



General. . . 



The general aspect of the forest of Codfish Island presents a succession 

 of low ridges of sage-green colour, here and there relieved by darker patches. 

 The exposed points, on the contrary, are of much lighter colour, and when 

 the wind blows are traversed by waves of white by the underside of ihe 

 leaves being thrown up to sight. The top of the forest proper presents an 

 uneven surface, while that of the exposed points is rounded and smooth 

 on the surface. The dominant colour and uneven surface of the forest are 

 brought about by the superabundance of Dacrydium cwpressinum, whose 

 tall yellowish-green heads are lifted high above the general level of 

 the forest. The darker patches represent patches of Metrosideros lucida, 

 although the lighter-green foliage of Weinmannia racemosa is also notice- 

 able. The general forest may be placed under the category of the 

 " Rimu-Kamahi," and the more exposed scrub as belonging to the " Senecio- 

 Olearia " association of Cockayne's report. Of these divisions, the latter 

 may fairly be called " coastal scrub " and the former the " forest." 



* Coastal Send: 

 The coastal scrub, as before mentioned, is comprised principally of 

 Olearia angustifolia, Senecio rotundifolius, and Olearia Colensoi, but Draco- 

 ■phyllum longifolium, also plays a part in it. Close in their foliage, with 

 bent, weird stems and branches, these plants have almost an eerie look, 

 suggestive of some contest with taniwhas or other powers of darkness. 

 When, however, after a struggle up the cliff-side, one fairly penetrates 



