366 Transactions. 



and there, like a pigmy pine-tree, is Lycopodium fastigiatum. 

 Ligusticum aromaticum and Geranium microphyilum are also 

 common, but their lowly habit renders them inconspicuous. 

 More striking, especially when in bloom, is a species of Epi- 

 lobium, allied to Ep. chlorcefolium, with rather large reddish 

 leaves and very large white flowers. Here and there, scattered 

 through the scrub, where the sheep cannot destroy them, are the 

 large silvery leaves of Celmisia coriacea. But the feature of the 

 undergrowth, and that which gives it its special character, is the 

 splendid buttercup Ranunculus lobularis, with its large orbicular 

 or subpeltate leaves and tall stems crowned with golden-yellow 

 flowers. 



The general height of the scrub is some 12 m. to 1-5 m., and 

 the shrubs, themselves of a dense habit, grow closely together. 

 This makes the formation not easy to penetrate, especially where 

 Rubus australis has invaded it from the neighbouring forest and 

 binds the shrubs closely together with the hooked prickles of 

 its petioles and mid-ribs. All the same, this subalpine scrub 

 cannot be put into the same category with regard to its impene- 

 trability as that of a mountain in the western Southern Alps 

 or Stewart Island, or especially such a scrub as occupies the 

 hillsides and valleys of Campbell Island. 



(b.) Climate. 



Before considering the life-forms of the various members of 

 the subalpine scrub, such details as are available with regard to 

 the climatic conditions to which it is subject must be given. 

 These are, however, very incomplete and quite lacking scientific 

 accuracy. In fact, with one or two exceptions, no meteorological 

 records have as yet been taken in the subalpine region of New 

 Zealand, and none are available for the Kaikoura Mountains. 

 Thanks, however, to the enthusiasm of Dr. John St. C. Gunn, 

 F.R.Met.Soc, statistics are available for the past eight years 

 as to the climate of the Kaikoura Plain at near sea-level. More- 

 over, Dr. Gunn has very kindly supplied me with some important 

 details as to the climate of Mount Fyffe itself, which have a 

 distinct bearing on the ecology of its plant-covering, regarding 

 which he thus writes to me : "I am sending you the information 

 you ask for. Of course, it can only be approximately correct, 

 but I have discussed the matter with Mr. A. Kennedy, who owns 

 the Mount Fyfre Run, and also with Mr. James Dunbar, the 

 head shepherd at Greenhills, who from many years' experience 

 of the ranges ought to know." 



Taking the seven years from 1897 to 1903 inclusive, the 

 mean yearly maximum temperature was 17° C, the mean yearly 

 minimum — 5-9° C, the absolute maximum 34*4° G, the absolute 



