2/0 THE PLANT WORLD. 



the physiognomy of the forest, other large trees are not wanting. 

 Such are the totara, the matai, the hinau, and the pokaka. There 

 are plenty of other smaller trees and shrubs. The tarata, with its 

 beautiful glossy leaves, the curious lancewood, the elegant ivy- 

 tree, the milk-tree, which exudes a white fluid from beneath its 

 bark, the true matipou with its red twigs, the pepper-tree with its 

 blotched leaves, the lovely white-flowered kaikomako, the charm- 

 ing lacebark — to mention some of the commoner plants — are all 

 there. Climbing plants, which give such a tropical aspect to a 

 New Zealand forest, are in profusion, the various classes, such as 

 twiners, tendril-climbers, scramblers and root-climbers, being 

 represented. 



Many of the plants exhibit the remarkable phenomenon of pass- 

 ing through two distinct forms in the course of their development, 

 juvenile and adult plants looking like distinct species. The pokaka 

 illustrates this admirably, and in the bush the distinct juvenile and 

 adult forms are much in evidence, while one very old tree has pro- 

 duced from its naked trunk a large growth of the juvenile stage. 

 Many of the trees have buttresses at the base of their trunks — 

 another reminder of the tropics. 



Nor is there any danger of the forest dying out. Apart from its 

 present vitality, seedlings are abundant in many places, and it is 

 especially pleasant to record that those of the kahikatea are particu- 

 larly numerous. 



Finally, it may be pointed out that no other city in New Zealana 

 possesses so near its center a piece of pine forest, primeval so far as 

 its large trees are concerned ; and not merely this, but the last piece 

 of primeval forest of its kind upon the face of the earth ! 



A timely movement has been started in New Zealand to preserve 

 the Riccarton Bush. A committee has been appointed to further 

 the proposal to acquire the forest as a Public Reserve, and the 

 government of New Zealand has voted £1500 toward its ac- 

 Cjuisition. 



