338 Transactions. — Botany. 



South America, where whole districts have been overrun with 

 it, its introduction may lead to serious trouble. AsphodcUis 

 fistidosus was more common than in any other locality known 

 to me. In many places it fringed the roads, and formed 

 clumps on the hillsides above. Trifolium resujnnaimn was in 

 great abundance, and is now found in damp sandy places in 

 most parts of the district. As it produces a fair amount of 

 feed in spring and early summer, its introduction is of decided 

 advantage to the settler. Apium leptophyllum was established 

 in several localities. An Australian grass, AndrojMgon annu- 

 lattis, not previously noticed in New Zealand, was plentiful on 

 a steep slope overlooking the main street. In moist places 

 Kyllinga monocci^hala formed stretches of green grassy foliage 

 Gin. to 9in. high. It was originally discovered by Mr. "W. T. 

 Ball, on a swampy flat on the northern side of the harbour, 

 and at the time of my first visit certainly did not occur any- 

 where on the southern side. It is now in immense abund- 

 ance, stretching to Kaitaia and Ahipara, and from thence as 

 far as the North Cape. I fear that it must be regarded as 

 an introduced plant, although at the time of its discovery I 

 expressed a different opinion. Many other alien plants of 

 interest were noticed. Verbena officinalis was a prominent 

 species, but was not so plentiful as it was twenty years ago, 

 when it covered acres, to the exclusion of almost ail other 

 vegetation. CEnothera stricta, Scahiosa atropurpurea, and 

 Solanum sodomceum were all frequently seen, as also many 

 others which it is not necessary to mention in this place. 



Crossing to the north side of the harbour, and proceeding 

 towards Tokoraata Point, few plants of interest were noticed 

 until the sea-cliffs were reached. "Where not covered with 

 bush, these were clothed from base to summit with the mag- 

 nificent IpoviGca palmata, at the time of my visit laden with 

 multitudes of large mauve flowers. It is decidedly one of the 

 most handsome species of our flora, and should be more often 

 seen in cultivation than is the case at present. It succeeds 

 well in gardens in the vicinity of Auckland if a little care is 

 taken at the time of its first establishment. Calystegiamar- 

 ginata, which appears to be an extremely local plant in New 

 Zealand, was picked in one or two localities. A few interest- 

 ing species were noticed in the patches of bush which are 

 scattered here and there along the cliffs, the most noteworthy 

 being Pittosporum umbellatum and P. virgaMim, Sapota 

 costata, Copirosma arborea, and Olearia angulata. On the 

 open hillsides overlooking the clifi's the typical form of 

 Haloragis tctragyna was unusually abundant, as also Ortlio- 

 ceras solandri, which could be pulled by the handful as the 

 traveller walked along. 



The coast-line between Mangonui Harbour and Flat Head 



