BY A. A. HAMILTON'. 467 



introduced 'Rib-herb,' Plantago lanceolata L. or P. coronopus 



L. The endemic rosetted Broseras and Goodenias, common in 

 .swamps and peat bogs, are absentees from the saline stations in 

 the marsh. Bulbous plants, crown-forming species, and herbs 

 witli a tuberous root-stock are also infrequent in these stations. 

 The absence from the local marshes of the vines and varied 

 shrubby vegetation common in tropical estuarine marshes is 

 conspicuous. In the marsh proper the indigenous flora pre- 

 dominates, but in the fluvial zone on its boundary the foreign 

 element is more evident. 



Floristic. 

 The floral element is unobtrusive, the absence of bright colours 

 emphasising the distinction between the xerophytic marsh plants 

 and the ericoid xerophytes of the neighbouring sandstone hill-, 

 with their wealth of gay blossoms, the prominent species in the 

 marsh displaying small or neutral-tinted flowers. The in- 

 florescence of the Grey Mangrove is dull and inconspicuous, con- 

 sating of sprays (cymes) of flowers with yellowish-red petals 

 frequently hidden in the luxuriant foliage. The River Man- 

 grove, Aegiceras ma jus Gaertn., which makes a more presentable 

 display, is not well represented in the local marshes. The 

 flowers of the Salicornia are immersed in the succulent fertile 

 stems, the anthers when ripe protruding from the narrow foliar 

 collar surrounding the joints. The floral envelopes of the Sea- 

 blite, Suaeda maritima Dumort., and other chenopods are green, 

 the minute flowers clustered round the stem, or half hidden in 

 the axils of the leaves. The dingy yellow flowers of the New 

 Zealand Spinach, Tetragonia expansa Murr., are also incon- 

 spicuously disposed. The horizontally arranged flowers of 

 Selliera radicans Cav. are streaked with drab-coloured splashes, 

 ami the Spurrey, Spergularia rubra Cainb., Lobelia anceps 

 Thunb.. and Wilsonia Backlwusii Hook. f. have small unattractive 

 flowers. Samolus repens Pers., a species with a minor repre- 

 sentation in the marsh, has bright starry flowers, but they are 

 usually hidden among the taller herbage through which the plants 

 creep. Cotula coronopifolia L., a lowly herb which attains its 

 optimum at the junction of the fluvial and saline stations, makes 

 a display of bright button-like flowers, which arrest attention by 

 their disparity with the prevailing lack of colour rather than 

 their intrinsic beauty. A large proportion of the marsh plants 

 are wind-pollinated, and the paucity of species with bright 



