Carsk. — Flora of the Mnngotiui County. 201 



Sand-dunes. 



The most striking plant of the sand-dunes is undoubtedly the tall plume- 

 grass Arundo conspicuo. Other plants peculiar to this situation are Co- 

 prosnid acerosa var. arenaria, Scirpus frondosus, Euphorbia glauca, and 

 Spinifex hirsutus, all of which are more or less useful in repelling the in- 

 roads of the sands. 



In sandy places at no great distance from the sea is found the tiny sundew 

 Drosera pygmaea. This " charming little gem "* has been reported from 

 various localities from Cape Maria van Dieraen to Ahipara, inland from 

 Kaitaia to Ahipara, and also from Bluflt Hill in Southland. So far no 

 botanist has seen it between these widely severed habitats. In many places 

 where the forest has been cleared, and the land has not been sown in grass, 

 or has been neglected, dense masses of fern [Pteris) cover the soil. Low- 

 lying grass lands will, if neglected, be smothered in wiwi {Jmicus effusus) 

 in a few years. 



Topographical Botany. 



It may be interesting now to take a few localities more particularly — 

 localities in which plants of special interest have been found. The first 

 I will refer to is the Tauroa. This is a tableland built up of consolidated 

 and drifting sands, rising from Reef Point to a height of about 700 ft. At 

 one time there were many kauri-trees growing on this plateau, the stumps 

 of which still remain. In sheltered gullies running down from the upper 

 level are remains of the original forest covering, consisting now of small 

 woods, rapidly, alas ! becoming buried in the ever-advancing sands. This 

 locality has been very thoroughly explored by Messrs. R. H. and H. B. 

 Matthews and Mr. H. Bedggood, and has yielded up many interesting 

 botanical finds. Among these are Myrtus Ralphii and M. obcordata, of 

 which the previous known northern limit was Whaugarei Heads ; Pseudo- 

 panax ferox, a rather rare plant ; Corokia sp., which is, I believe, similar 

 to one found by Mr. Cheeseman in the North Cape district, which may prove 

 a new species ; t Lagenophora pinnatifida, not before known north of Helens- 

 ville, Auckland ; Earina mucronata, variety with broader leaves, denser 

 panicle, and larger flowers ; Microlaena polynoda, extending its habitat 

 north from Whangarei Heads. 



" Lake Tangonge is the largest of a chain of lakes situated on the western 

 side of the Awanui River, almost fringing the coast-line of sandhills. It is 

 about three miles in length by perhaps half that Avidth, but is surrounded 

 by a much larger area of raupo swamps, most of which are filled with water 

 during the greater part of the year."{ 



In or near this lake have been found several very interesting plants, 

 thanks to the investigations of Messrs. R. H. and H. B. Matthews. Of 

 these perhaps the most interesting is Lycopodium Drummondii. "' This 

 plant, which was referred to L. carolinianum. in the Handbook, was gathered 

 within the district by Mr. Colenso in 1839, but unfortunately the exact 

 locality has been forgotten. "§ 



Another interesting plant of this locality is Lepyrodia Traversii, pre- 

 viously reported only from the Middle Waikato district and the Chatham 

 Islands ; and another rare plant is Pterostylis micromega, found in swamps 



* " Students' Flora/' Kirk, p. 146. 



t " Manual of the New Zealand Flora," T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S., p. 238. 

 J ^' On the Flora of the North Cape District," T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S. : 

 Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 29, p. 343. 

 § Loc. cit., p. 382. 



