KiBK. — On the Botany of the East Cape District. 511 



chief features of the vegetation. Amongst many remarkable 

 discoveries made by him must be specially mentioned the 

 occurrence of Carmichaelia williamsii at Hicks Bay, Archeria 

 racemosa at Te Whetu Matarau, and Pisonia brunoniana 

 at the East Cape. I am indebted to him not only for 

 numerous specimens, but for a vast amount of general in- 

 formation respecting the plants of the district, and especially 

 for a catalogue of three hundred flowering-plants and ferns 

 collected by him during his frequent itinerations. It is upon 

 this list and one of the plants collected by Banks and Solander 

 that the catalogue of East Cape plants presented herewith is 

 chiefly based. 



I am also indebted to Mr. S. Dodgshun, of Waipiro, for a 

 valuable collection of plants from the peak of Hikuraugi ; to 

 my son, Mr. H. B. Kirk, for Thelymitra colensoi and other 

 rarities ; and to Mr. J. B. Lee, of Waipiro, for specimens 

 collected during the past two years. 



Mr. H. Hill, Inspector of Schools to the Education Board 

 of Hawke's Bay, has made several interesting discoveries 

 during his official journeys through the district, the most 

 noteworthy being Peperomia rcfiexa, Dietrich, and P. muri- 

 catulata, Col., both new to the colony. He has recently 

 discovered a remarkable habitat for Dactylanthus taylori, 

 Hook. f. 



Mr. A. Hamilton visited Waikaremoana and other parts 

 of the district several years ago, when he collected a few 

 plants not previously known to occur in the district. 



I have twice visited the district, but on each occasion my 

 time was so closely taken up by official duties that the oppor- 

 tunities for botanical investigation were extremely brief, and 

 only permitted the collection of a few plants not previously 

 recorded. Urgent duties have hitherto prevented my carry- 

 ing out a long-cherished intention of making a detailed 

 examination of the district ; so that the catalogue of flower- 

 ing-plants and ferns now submitted is largely due to the 

 labours of others ; it seems, however, too valuable to be 

 longer hidden, and is therefore, after much delay, arranged 

 in a form which will render it available for use by my fellow- 

 workers. 



The East Cape district comprises the country extending 

 from Opotiki, Cape Eunaway (37° 30' south), and the East 

 Cape to the Mahia Peninsula (39° 15' south), so that on che 

 east, north, and south it is bounded by the sea. On the west 

 it runs into the vast stretch of forest country which extends 

 to the Whakatane Mountains, and is known as the Urewera 

 country, or the Land of Tuhoe. 



Much of the country is very broken, the mountains cul- 

 minating in Hikurangi, 5,606ft., the highest peak north of 



