372 Transactions. — Botany. 



or arm of the Manukau, thence by tram to the river some- 

 where near Cameron Town. The road was formed for over 

 three miles, and is still 2 chains wide, one side being intended 

 for the tramway and the other for ordinary traffic. The 

 formation of the railway, however, knocked tbis scheme on 

 the head. Much of the tram between Mauku and Puni 

 passes through low-lying swampy land from which a good 

 deal of gum has been dug. On either side of the road is high 

 Leptospermum scrub, among which grow Panax arboreum, 

 Quintinia serrata, Carpoditus serratus, &c. In a swamp on the 

 edge of the road I found one specimen of the beautiful orchid 

 Prasophyllum colensoi, the only one I have seen so far in the 

 whole district. 



Turning down by the Puni School and up a long hill we 

 reach Mr. Shipherd's house, from which a magnificent view 

 of the Lower Waikato is to be obtained. The river is seen, 

 studded with numerous small islands, winding about through 

 the low-lying land which stretches for miles in places on 

 either side. Much of this level land is covered with dense 

 kahikatea forest. In the bush near Mr. Shipherd's is one 

 plant of Pteris comans. This is the only plant of this species 

 I have ever seen so far from the sea. 



A ride of about two miles brings us to the bank of the river 

 at the site of an old flax-mill. In this part of the river in some 

 places there is a high bauk close on the water's edge, while in 

 others is a stretch of swampy land from a few yards to a mile 

 or more in breadth, frequently covered with kahikatea bush, 

 or, where it is open, with Typha angusiifolia and other 

 swamp plants. These swamps are, as a rule, negotiable in 

 the summer, but are very awkward places to get into, and 

 much more so to get out of again, owing to the great height of 

 the raupo and sedges. In and on the margin of the water 

 (for the river is affected by the tides) the more interesting 

 plants are Potamogeton ochreatum, P. ckeescmami, Myrio- 

 phyllum varicefolium, M. elatinoides, Limosella aquatica, and 

 a curious dwarfed form of Pratia angulata. Mr. Petrie's 

 Hydrocotyle hydrophila is also fairly plentiful. In muddy 

 spots Elatine americana and Callitriche muetleri are of fre- 

 quent occurrence. In drier spots the typical form of Pratia 

 angulata, Hydrocotyle novm-zelandia, and Ophioglossum vul- 

 gatum occur. Floating on wet swamps are Lemna minor 

 and Azolla rubra. In most of the swamps such plants as 

 Scirpus maritivius, Garex ternaria, and G. subdola are plenti- 

 ful. In land more or less submerged Mazus pumilio and 

 Viola lyallii occur ; and here also I found a few plants of 

 Nephrodium thely pteris. In a warm sheltered spot I noted 

 a few plants of Asplenium umbrosum, a fern somewhat rare 

 in this district. 



