202 Tramactions. 



on the margin of the lake. In a few places in the lake itself are found plants 

 of Utricularia protrusa. This is only the third locality known in the 

 Dominion. The somewhat rare sedge Scirpus lenticularis is also fomid here ; 

 and on the margin of the marshy land Mr. R. H. Matthews discovered Carex 

 Brownii, a small sedge, not previously known as a native of New Zealand. 



Where the waters of the lake flow out into the Kaitaia-Awanui River 

 Mr. Matthews made one of the most interesting finds that botanic science 

 has known for many years : this was the rediscovery of Pittosporum, oh- 

 cordatum. But for the fact that I had climbed up a cabbage-tree a few 

 minutes earlier for the purpose of getting a view over the high raupo, &c., 

 I might have scored this point ; but the main point is that this long-lost 

 species was rediscovered. It was originally reported by Raoul from Akaroa, 

 but has not been seen since in that locality. 



Within a short distance of this spot are found several specimens of 

 Plagianthus cymosus, a rather rare plant. For some time only one tree 

 was known in this locality, but later several others were found. 



Scattered throughout the district are other plants of considerable interest 

 to botanists for their rarity or from their being found in habitats much 

 farther north of any previously reported. 



On the sandy margin of Lake Ngatu, a small lake situated behind the 

 coastal sand-dunes a few miles from Awanui, I had the good fortune to 

 discover a tiny annual herb belonging to the order Centrole'pideae. It was 

 provisionally described in the Manual as Trithuria inconspicua. Later, in 

 a paper read before the Auckland Institute, 3rd October, 1906, Mr. Cheese- 

 man placed this plant in the genus Hydatella, a genus of three species, two 

 found in Western Australia, the third endemic in New Zealand.* 



The koru (Colensoa phjsaloides), the leaves of which were used by the 

 Natives in the early days in place of cabbage, occurs sparingly in several 

 places. It is usually found among damp shady rocks, never as a rule at 

 any great distance from the sea. It has been reported from Mount Camel, 

 Merita Bay, Ahipara, the Toatoa, a deep ravine inland from Doubtless 

 Bay, and near Herekino. 



In addition to the submerged bladderwort {Utricularia protrusa) found 

 in Lake Tangonge, two smaller ones { U. novae-zealandiae and U. delicatula) 

 occur in peaty swamps in several localities. The former is reported by 

 Mr. Cheeseman from near Lake Ohia ; I have also found it on a peaty slope 

 near Kaitaia. The latter, a dainty little plant, is more plentiful, occurring 

 in peaty swamps near Kaitaia, on both sides of Rangaunu Harbour, and 

 on the Peria gum-hills. 



In Flat Bush, a low-lying piece of land between Kaitaia and Fairburn, 

 I discovered the sedge Carex dipsacea. This is plentiful in Manukau County, 

 but has not been reported from any locality farther north until I found it. 

 Probably it does occur between these distant points, but has been over- 

 looked. 



The Westland pine {Dacrydiuni Colensoi), which is not uncommon along 

 the west coast of the South Island, is found in the North Island at a few 

 widely separated spots only from Ruapehu to the far north. One mature 

 tree and a sprinkling of young ones occur in a kauri bush a few miles from 

 Fairburn. I am told that another tree is known near A'ictoria Valley, but 

 I have not seen it. 



* " Notice of the Occurrence of Hydatella, a Genus new to the New Zealand Flora," 

 by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. : Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 39, p. 433. 



