Cockayne. — On Vegetation of Open Bay Islands. 371 



cially that of the smaller southern portion, shows such distribu- 

 tion in a more striking manner. Commencing near the edge of 

 the cliffs, or in some places extending on to the cliffs themselves, 

 is a zone of Tillaza moschata, sometimes quite pure, or in other 

 places intermingled with Samolus repens and Apium prostratum. 

 The Tillcea is in certain situations, especially where the ground 

 is particularly wet, of great luxuriance — the stems, e.g., about 

 32 cm. in length, with the lower half prostrate and bare, but 

 conspicuous through its red colour, while the upper half is erect 

 and covered thickly with short succulent green leaves. In some 

 places Till&a may be wanting, in which case the continuity of 

 the zone is preserved by breadths of Lepidium oleraceum, with 

 spreading shoots + 72 cm. in length. The " Tillcea zone " is 

 succeeded by a second one consisting of Car ex comans, 4 m. or 

 more in width, the individual plants forming pale-coloured 

 tussocks 17 cm. tall, and with a spread of 32 cm. 



The third zone, about 9 m. in breadth, consists of the very 

 common maritime fern Asplenium obtusatum, growing densely 

 and with the thick coriaceous fronds 44 cm. tall. These arise 

 from stout creeping rhizomes, + 30 cm. in length by + 22 cm. 

 in circumference — i.e., if the bases of the fallen fronds be in- 

 cluded — the actual rhizome measuring only + 3 - 5 cm. x + 3 cm. 

 Such large breadths of dense fern, with the fronds of a uniform 

 height, and all touching, make a remarkable sight (see Plate 

 XXIII. ). As showing the looseness of the soil in which this fern 

 grows, pieces of rhizome were pulled up with peat attached 

 measuring 73 cm. x 50 cm. 



Succeeding the zone of pure Asplenium obtusatum is in some 

 places a fourth zone, of which a well-marked variety of Veronica 

 elliptica is occasionally the principal plant, or this may be mixed 

 with or replaced by Muehlenbeckia adpressa, combined with cer- 

 tain other plants. The Veronica elliptica is 4 m. or more in 

 height, the main trunk is prostrate at the base, then ascending 

 and spreading with straggling branches. This variety of Veronica 

 elliptica is quite distinct from any with which I am acquainted, 

 it having remarkably large leaves. As it does not appear to vary 

 to any extent, and since the climatic conditions of the Open Bay 

 Islands are not such as might be expected to favour a luxuri 

 ant development of leaf, but rather the contrary, most probably 

 this is a constant variety and would " come true " from seed. 

 It would be consequently a matter of considerable interest to 

 procure seeds and raise plants, so as to settle this question. 

 Also, plants could readily be propagated from cuttings, and 

 then grown under different conditions, so as to observe if the 

 leaf-form could be easily modified. Asplenium obtusatum grows 

 densely in many places beneath the bushes of Veronica associated 



