314 THE DISPLACEMENT OF SPECIES IN NEW ZEALAND. 



amalgamated with them, to the great benefit of the stock-grower. 

 Microlcena stipoidcs and Danthonia pilosa are fair examples of this 

 group. 



Keplacement by Epacrids. 



One of the most interesting instances of replacement that has 

 been observed up to this time is now in progress on the Te Karaka 

 flats, between Papatoitoi and Drury, in the Auckland District. 

 These flats for many miles are clothed with a dense, but not always 

 luxuriant, growth of manuka, manuka-raunui (Lcptufipermum eri- 

 coides, Dracophi/Ilum Urvillianuni), mingimingi (Cyathodes acerosa), 

 &c., the manuka being the prevailing plant. Kather more than 

 forty years ago the late Dr. Sinclair and General Bolton discovered 

 the beautiful Kpacris piirjmmscens, a native of New South Wales, 

 in this locality, when it was rightly considered by Sir Joseph 

 Hooker to have been introduced.* Fifteen years elapsed before it 

 was seen by other botanists, when it was found in several places on 

 the flats, presenting the aspect of a truly indigenous plant, and 

 attaining the height of from 2 ft. to 6 ft. or more. From the great 

 quantity in which it was found I was erroneously led to consider it 

 indigenous, and this conclusion has been generally accepted. More 

 recently + it has been observed in localities fully twenty miles 

 distant. In 1875 three plants of another species (E. microplujlla) 

 were discovered by A. T. Urquharfc, Esq., in the same district. 

 This species is also a native of New South Wales, but has a wider 

 range, extending to Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania. In three 

 years the plant increased to such an extent that it formed "a dense 

 mass 60 yards in circumference, the intermediate vegetation — 

 Leptospermnm, Pumaderris, and Pteris — being almost completely 

 destroyed." :[ In 1887 I had the pleasure of visiting the habitat 

 under the guidance of Mr. Urquhart, and found that not only had 

 the area occupied by the plant been greatly extended, but that 

 colonies had been formed at a greater or less distance from the 

 original centre, and would in their turn form new centres of distri- 

 bution. Mr. Urquhart also pointed out a very old specimen of 

 another species, E. pidchella, also a native of New South Wales : 

 this was surrounded by numbers of young plants, which were 

 producing perfect seed, and increasing at a rapid rate. My friend 

 informed me that he had discovered a colony of this species at some 

 distance from the parent plant, but, unfortunately, I had not time 

 to visit it. These three species were alike extending their area 

 mainly in the direction of the prevailing winds, and would, I am 

 convinced, be able practically to replace the indigenous vegetation 

 over the entire area if not interfered with by man. This instance 

 of replacement is replete with interest, as it is almost the only case 

 in which there is clear evidence of the seeds of phanerogamic plants 

 having been carried by aerial currents over a distance of from 1200 

 to 1400 miles and becoming established in a new country. 



* Fl. N. Z. ii. 321, 334. 



t Trans. N.Z. Inst. ii. (1869), 107. 



+ Trans. N. Z. Inst, xviii. (1881), 364. 



