THE SOUTH TEMPERATE ZONE 341 



cling to the trunks and branches of the trees. It is often found 

 attached to the slender trunk of the "Nikau" {Rhopalostylis 

 sapida), very common in the North Island, and the only palm 

 native to New Zealand. 



Where the cleared land has been abandoned, it is often invaded 

 b}' the ubiquitous bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), and another 

 plant which quickly takes possession is the " Manuka" (Lepto- 

 spermum scoparium), a shrub closely resembling some of the Aus- 

 tralian species. When in bloom, the profusion of pretty white 

 flowers is quite ornamental. 



In open moist places, all over New Zealand, two characteristic 

 plants at once attract attention. The native flax (Phormium 

 tenax) and the " cabbage-tree" (Cordyline Anstralis), both hand- 

 some plants, are often seen in cultivation. The latter, sometimes 

 in California known as " Yucca-palm," is not very distantly 

 related to our native Yuccas. The flax yields an abundant strong 

 fibre which is manufactured on a large scale and is one of the most 

 important products of the country. In November, when these 

 two plants are in bloom, they present a fine picture. The flax 

 sends up from its great tufts of broad leaves, four or five feet high, 

 flower stalks of twice that height, bearing racemes of dark red 

 flowers, which are frequented by the honey-sucking birds. The 

 stately cabbage-trees have big clusters of small white, very fra- 

 grant flowers. 



Among the common trees of New Zealand are several species of 

 Metrosideros (Myrtaceae), a genus distributed over Polynesia and 

 Australasia. M. robusta, the "Rata," is a handsome tree with 

 glossy foliage, and a profusion of bright red flowers, the si aniens, 

 as in many other Myrtaceae, being the showy part, of the flower. 

 M. tomentosa is very common about Auckland, and M. lucida in 

 the South Island. Some of the species are climbers, and M. robusta 

 begins life as an epiphyte behaving like many of the tropical ban- 

 yan figs. 



Further south the forest is of much the same type, but the 

 Kauri is entirely absent, and finally the Nikau-palm disappears. 

 In the extreme southern part of the North Island, near Wellington, 

 one first encounters the evergreen beeches, which are very char- 

 acteristic of many districts in the South Island. 



The predominant forest near Wellington is a mixed one. Fine 



