Cockayne. — On a Form of Coprosma propinqua. 379 



ill the landscape of fhe south-west corner of Chatham Island, 

 I observed in 1901 a prostrate Coprosma which, at first glance, 

 I thought to be a new species. On further examination it seemed 

 more probable that it was merely a rock form of Coprosma 

 propinqua, a common plant of the lowland swamps of the island. 

 Also, similar plants, although not quite so prostrate, were ob- 

 served by me growing on the wet peaty surface of the upland 

 bogs. A living specimen of these latter I brought back with 

 me to Christchurch.* This was cultivated for some time in 

 a pot, and finally, about two years ago, I planted it in a sheltered 

 part of the Canterbury College botanical experimental garden, 

 ill ordinary garden soil, and where, dming dry weather, it is 

 kept well watered. 



Now, notwithstanding that this plant has every oppor- 

 tunity to assume an erect habit, it remains almost prostrate, 

 with its branches spreading out laterally ; indeed, it resembles, 

 so far as my recollection goes, the Chatham Island plant of 

 the xerophytic bog. 



It may, of course, be argued that my identification is in- 

 correct, and that the plant is not a form of Coprosma propinqua 

 at all, but a new species. Even in that case its behaviour in 

 cultivation is of interest, for all such cases should be tested 

 by experiment as to the permanency of their adaptation- 

 characters. 



This particular class of plants in wind-swept localities, which 

 hug the rocks on which they grow, and which in one set of 

 species are merely non-hereditary variations caused by the 

 mechanical action of the wind plus a dry station, and in the 

 other are hereditary, seem to me to point strongly to the here- 

 dity of acquired characters under that particular class of cir- 

 cumstances. Of course, I know that the natm-al-selectionist 

 pure and simple will point out how natural selection could have 

 brought the special prostrate form into existence, and the 

 mutationist would show how a mutation would do it still more 

 efTectively. But, with all deference to the opinion of both, and 

 especiallv to the latter, it does seem that, had neither natural 

 selection nor mutation ever been heard of, in such a case as 

 this I have recorded, the inheritance of acquired characters 

 would have been considered a sufiicient and ample proof. 



* I also brought plants from tho Horns, but these unfortunntely died. 



