412 Transactions. — Botany. 



loncjifolmm and Veronica suhalpina is met with, which must in 

 time form a thick scrub. Wherever the ground gets moister 

 Veronica oclora makes its appearance in considerable quantity, 

 0-45 m. to 0-52 m. in height, and akeady blooming. Further 

 on still are remains of dense Dracophyllum, now replaced by 

 the three Veronicas, 055 m. to 0-58 m. in height. One patch 

 of Veronica subaljnna, in area 5 m. by 1-60 m., measured in 

 height 0-70 m. At about 1 kilom. from the road the burning 

 ceased, a creek from Mount Rolleston proving a barrier to the 

 fire. Across this creek the original subalpine scrub is en- 

 countered in its primeval state. Here it is so dense as to be 

 practically impassable. Just before reaching this point the 

 reproduction is not very fast, the young scrub consisting 

 mainly of Veronica subalpina and Coprosma serrulata, together 

 with Phormium in plenty, herbaceous plants, and grasses. 

 Over the whole of this section Epilobiums have been frequent, 

 three species being mainly observed. Epilobium, as a rule, 

 is very abundant after fire, the burnt forest near Lake Waka- 

 tipu, on the Humboldt Mountains, abounding in varieties, 

 many of which are possibly hybrids. 



List of Shkubby Plants in the Primeval Subalpine 



Scrub of Section E. 

 (1.) Growing on Stony Ground and tuith Partial Shelter. 

 Veronica subalpina, sp. nov. (ined.). 

 Coprosraa cuneata. Hook. f. 

 Senecio elcsagnifoiius. Hook. f. 

 Coprosma, ciliated sp. 

 Senecio bidicillii, Hook. f. 



Dracophyllum longifoliuni, Br. ; not in quantity. 

 Muhlenbeckia axillaris, Hook. f. 

 Veronica canterburiensis, J. B. Armst. 

 Olearia nummularifclia. Hook. f. 

 Ilymenanthera {vide note, ante). 



Species where the Scrub becomes taller. 



Panax colensoi. Hook. f. ; in quantity. 



Senecio elceagnifolius. Hook. f. ; in quantity. 



Phyllocladus alpinus. Hook. f. ; in quantity. 



Archeria traversii. Hook. f. 



And those enumerated above in smaller quantity, and 

 Veronica almost altogether absent. 



To sum up, there is on the ridges a tall Dracophyllum- 

 Phyllocladus- Panax scrub, and in the hollows a dwarfer one 

 of Veronica and various dwarf shrubs of which Olearia num- 

 mularifolia fills a large part. Very httle Coprosma serrulata 

 * was seen, Podocarpus nivalis, and in places Coprosma ramu- 

 losa, being in its stead. 



