Cheeseman. — On the Flora of the North Cape District. 341 



Cladnmi terctifolium was the predommant plant in the 

 swamps, but mixed with it were Cladium jiinceum, Schoenus 

 tenax, S. tendo, HyjJolcBua lateriflora, Gleichenia dicarpa, 

 Drosera binata, Dianella intermedia, and several species of 

 Sphagnum. Utricularia novce-ztalandice w^as plentiful in 

 peaty places, its pretty little lilac flowers at once arresting 

 the glance. The sandy ridges were mainly covered with 

 Pteris and Leptospenyuim, mixed with Ejjacris pauci flora, 

 Dracophyllum urvilleanum, Pimclea prostrata, Lencopogon 

 fraseri, and a few sedges and grasses. After a somewhat 

 disagreeable tramp we reached the margin of the lake. We 

 found it extremely shallow, and I was able to wade at least 

 a hundred yards from the shore without overstepping my 

 knees. The bottom was composed of clean white sand 

 almost altogether free from vegetation. I searched in vain 

 for Isoetes and Pilularia, and the only water-plant seen was 

 Mijriophyllum varicefolium, which was present in small quan- 

 tity. It is possible, however, that at a later period of the 

 season, when the water stands at a lower level, the traveller 

 may be more successful in obtaining lacustrine or submerged 

 plants. The surroundings of the lake were dreary in the 

 extreme. On all sides stretched an apparently interminable 

 swamp, with its monotonous growth of sedges. To the south 

 a low range of hills was visible, but so bare, barren, and for- 

 bidding that it only added to the desolate appearance of the 

 landscape. Not a tree was visible ; and not a sign of life 

 could be seen in the lake itself. 



Eetracing our steps to the Awapoko, we turned in a south- 

 westerly direction to regain the road to Awanui. After 

 travelling along the flat for about a mile, we ascended the 

 hills which flank its southern side. The resemblance 

 which they present to an old coast-line was most obvious, 

 and it was impossible to avoid coming to the conclusion that 

 we had before us part of the shore of the shallow sea which 

 formerly rolled from Doubtless Bay westwards as far as 

 Ahipara. For the remaiiader of the day our track led over 

 undulating clay hills covered with a meagre and uninterest- 

 ing vegetation. No change took place until we reached the 

 Parerau camping-ground, where there is a patch of bush, and 

 a pretty little stream, which in our maps is made to discharge 

 into Lake Ohia, but which really flows into Eangaujiu Har- 

 bour. The tarairi was the pi-incipal tree, but Carpodetus, 

 JVeinmannia, Alectryon, Hedycarya, and totara were also pre- 

 sent. The undergrowth was almost wholly composed of 

 Coprosma j^ctrviflora, attaining a height of from 15ft. to 20ft. 

 Among the plants gathered was Erechtites prenanthoides, 

 not previously seen to the north of the Thames goldfields. 



The next morning we were awakened by the song of the 



