506 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



golden lily (Anthericuvi rossii) in seed. Here, too, grew sweet- 

 scented Cotula lanata, and its handsome congener CoUda 

 phiviosa, both of which are worth cultivating. Over the whole 

 country Pleuropln/llnm speciosnm sends up, amid huge ribbed 

 leaves, 2ft. long, its spikes of beautiful lilac or purple flowers. 

 These spikes are usually four or five, sometimes eight or ten, in 

 number. The regular imbrication of the large ribbed leaves, 

 so strong as to push aside the rank grasses, renders these 

 plants singularly beautiful. They form deep cups of crisp 

 foliage, which gives way with a crash as you set your foot on 

 it. We long endeavoured to avoid crushing these splendid 

 plants until they grew too thick, and we too callous, but I 

 could seldom avoid the reflection that often for hundreds of 

 yards each step crushed a plant worth ten guineas in Covent 

 Garden. The next species, Pleurophylhim criniferum, was 

 also plentiful. Its leaves are even larger, and, though not so 

 handsome, make it a very fine plant, especially as its tall, 

 white flower-stalk, sometimes 3ft. high, covered with button- 

 like, brown, rayless flower-heads, lin. across, is a very striking- 

 object. A third species which seems to have escaped the 

 notice of Sir Joseph Hooker is smaller, a,nd has the most 

 beautiful silvery leaves. It grows sparsely on the slopes, and 

 in great profusion on the flat top. I had this in cultivation 

 last year, but it failed me. 



Here, too, we met in immense quantities the most beauti- 

 ful of all the Celmisias, C. vernicosa, a little plant with leaves 

 here seldom more than 2in. long, gleaming like polished 

 nephrite newly from the lapidary's hands, arranged in the 

 most perfect rosettes. I believe that I am almost the only 

 cultivator in New Zealand of this beautiful plant. I find I 

 can keep it alive well enough, but have not had it long enough 

 to get it into flower. It often forms large patches, the pretty 

 rosettes of leaves rising from spreading rhizomes. It was past 

 flowering, but we obtained flowers at a higher altitude next 

 day. 



Stilhocarpa i)olaris is plentiful along the shore. This plant 

 carries a large bunch of seeds on a rather slender stalk. 

 When they ripen they turn black ; then the stem, without 

 fading, bends outwards and down to the ground as if by a 

 muscular movement, and carries the mass of nuts to the ground 

 so that they fall clear of the leaves. 



Besides these beautiful plants, we gathered many that are 

 curious and interesting to botanists, and many of which I 

 expect to find improve under cultivation. We made two 

 journeys up the hill, each time carrying down heavy baskets 

 of plants, which were duly stored in boxes on board. I have 

 but faintly described the charms of the most beautiful field of 

 flowers I have ever seen. Mr. Kirk was on the hill most of 



