Cockayne. — Begroivth of Burnt Forest. 411 



Proceeding along the slope above the river in many places 

 at first the original scrub was not very dense, and consisted in 

 large part of Dracopliyllum loiigifoUum, and such shrubs as 

 have been previously shown to be associated with it. These 

 are not in general reproducing themselves. Coprosma serru- 

 lata has often taken complete possession ; and of this species, 

 strange to say, no young plants were observed. This creeping 

 shrub must have great power of resisting fire, its strong under- 

 ground stems apparently escaping injury. So soon as the fire 

 is over it must recommence growth at a great rate, there being 

 no longer the dense shade to keep it in check ; and so, for a 

 time, the sole survivor, it takes possession of the place, spread- 

 ing entirely by means of its underground stems, their growth 

 possibly stimulated by the potash as well as by the extra 

 light, air, and dii'ect rain. These remarks apply, though in a 

 limited degree, to its more recently described relative G. ramu- 

 losa. These will probably in time to come remain almost the 

 sole occupants of the large areas they have seized upon. 



Proceeding up the river, here and there young plants of 

 Draco phylliim loncjifolium were met with ; also a sprinkling 

 through the whole of Oiearia ilUcifolia. Perhaps the great 

 feature of this portion of the section is the vast number of 

 seedling plants of Celmisia, especially G. armstrongii, which 

 must have increased considerably in quantity since the fire. 

 Less than two years after the fire I was over this same 

 ground, and Gelmisia was then germinating in great abundance. 

 A few plants of Senecio el(sagnifolius and Gaultheria anti- 

 jjoda were also noted. 



Proceeding up the river-bank a gully is reached where 

 formerly existed a much taller and denser scrub. This — the 

 species being arranged in their order of frequency — consisted 

 of — Gaya lyallii, Phyllocladus alpinus, benecio elceagnifolius, 

 Dracophy Ihim longifolitmi, Oiearia nummularifolia, all these 

 in plenty ; with, iu smaller quantity, Goprosnia cuneata, Vero- 

 nica salicifolia, Podocarpus nivalis, and Senecio bidxvillii. 

 Here Veronica suhalpina, 0-20 m. to 0-80 m. in height, is in 

 great quantity, and, with Phormitmi and Gop)rosma serrulata, 

 will replace the original totally different scrub. 



Other seedlings observed here, but in much smaller quan- 

 tity, were : Vero7iica canterhuriensis , Goprosma parvijloi'a, 

 Coprosma acerosa, Oiearia illicifolia, Veronica salicifolia (here 

 and there), Gop)ros?na cuneata, Gop)rosvia ramulosa, Cop)rosma 

 retusa, Petrie, with here and there a few of such trees as 

 usually are amongst those which escape burning. It is worthy 

 of remark that no Veronica suhalpina was observed in the still 

 standing scrub. 



Passing over this gully, at first Goprosma serrulata takes 

 precedence, and then a considerable quantity of Dracophyllum 



