342 Transactions. 



limit in the west of Nelson. It is found, too, in Norfolk Island, 

 but whether the form there is identical with the New Zealand 

 plant appears to be somewhat doubtful.* When growing on 

 cliffs and rocks it is frequently prostrate, being flattened closely 

 against the rock-surface, but when in more sheltered situations 

 and in deeper soil it is a small tree with a fairly thick trunk 

 and dense crown of foliage ; in fact, the two extreme forms 

 are so unlike that they might easily be mistaken for two different 

 species. It is most amenable to cultivation, and in consequence 

 is very frequently made use of as a hedge plant in many parts 

 of New Zealand, especially in the North Island. Now, as in 

 many cases such hedge plants are growing under conditions 

 different from those of the species in its natural seaside habitat, 

 an opportunity is afforded of instituting a comparison between 

 the cultivated and wild plants. Thus, during my recent resi- 

 dence at Island Bay, Wellington, I had an opportunity to ob- 

 serve such differences as existed between the leaves of a certain 

 shelter hedge in that neighbourhood and those of plants grow- 

 ing near the sea, both of the tree and prostrate forms. 



The hedge in question was so planted, between a paling 

 fence on the one side and a house on the other, that it was 

 sheltered in its lower part from the north-west wind, and al- 

 together from that from the south-west, these two winds being, 

 as is well known, extremely severe in the above locality. 

 Moreover, the basal portions of the plants were in almost com- 

 plete shade, receiving little, if any, direct sunlight. 



In contradistinction to this wind-still, shady environment, 

 that of the seaside plants is very different. There they are 

 exposed to frequent and furious winds and to bright, direct sun- 

 light. Some plants also may receive at times a certain amount 

 of sea-spray, which of course will tend to increase the succulence 

 of their leaves. 



A glance at the photograph (Plate LII) shows at once the 

 great difference which exists between such shade leaves and those 

 exposed to sun and wind, which latter, however, belong to the 

 normal leaf-form of the species. To go into further details, 

 the leaves of Coprosma baueri when growing in its natural habitat 

 are somewhat fleshy in texture, glossy green on the upper sur- 

 face but much paler beneath, and the margins are recurved. 



* Thus, Hooker writes, " The New Zealand specimens are much more 

 succulent and stout in habit than those of the Norfolk Island, but I find 

 no differences in the flower or fruit" ("Flora Novae-Zelandia?," vol. i, 

 p. lot). 



Maiden (" The Flora of Norfolk Island," Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., 

 1904, p. 706) did not observe Coprosma baueri during his visit to Nor- 

 folk Island, and considers that it is probably rare. 



