282 Transactions. 



sessiliflorum of small size are dotted about, with numerous apecimens of 

 Craspedia nniflora var. robusta. Gradually the dunes become more stable 

 as they recede from the coast, and ultimately become covered with forest. 

 It is difficult to draw the line between ancient and modern dunes, the 

 transition from one to the other being so gradual. 



(b.) Ancient Dunes. 



In dealing with the ancient dunes it will be necessary to treat the 

 plant covering under two heads — namely, dune heath and dune forest. 



* Dune Heath. 



There is a considerable dune heath at Ruggedy lying between the 

 frontage dunes and the dune forest. The dunes vary much in their water- 

 content, and their plant covering differs accordingly. The common as- 

 sociation of the drier parts consists of Leptospermum scoparium. (much of 

 it dwarfed, but on the edge of the forest nearly 30 ft. tall, with trunks in 

 some cases 15 in. in diameter), Pteridium esculentum, Blecfinum capense, 

 B. discolor, Styphelia acerosa, stunted Weintnaiinia racemosa, Coprosma 

 foetidissima, Veronica salicifolia, stunted Griselinia littoralis, Gaidtheria 

 erecta, Olearia Colensoi, Aristotelia racemosa, Coprosma Colensoi, Phormium 

 Cookianum,, and Astelia nervosa. In the more open parts Coprosma 

 acerosa, Lagenophora pumila, Lihertia ixioides (in full bioom), Poly- 

 podium diversifolium, Coriaria ruscifolia, Wahlenbergia saxicola, Styphelia 

 Fraseri, Linum monogynum, Calystegia Soldanella, Geranium sessiliflorum, 

 Gaultheria perplexa, Coriaria angustissima (?), with stunted Carpodetus 

 serratus and a juvenile plant or two of Rnbus schmidelioides. I also noted 

 two plants of Celmisia rigida. In the damper parts the association changed 

 somewhat, and included Arundo conspicua, Juncus planifolius, Hydrocotyle 

 asiatica, Scirpus nodosus, and, as actual bog was approached, Utricularia 

 monanthos, and in places Leptocarpus simplex. In the pools Potamogeton 

 Cheesemani was also seen. 



The upper portion of the Fresh-water Valley consists almost entirely 

 of ancient dunes alternating with bogs and swamps. On the drier hills 

 there is an abundance of Leptospermum scoparium, with Styphelia Fraseri, 

 Pentachondra pmnila, Thelymitra uniflora, Celmisia longifolia, Cassinia 

 Vauvilliersii, Olearia nitida, Nothopanax Colensoi, Acaena novae-zealandiae, 

 Phormium Cookianum, Lycopodium ramulosam, Veronica salicifolia, Ruhv^ 

 australis, Lagenophora petiolata, Pteridium esculentum, Gaidtheria erecta, 

 Coprosma acerosa. Here and there patches of Danthonia Raoulii meadow 

 are found, the tussocks fairly close together, but in the spaces between 

 them Helichrysum filicaule, Thelymitra uniflora. Microtis porrifolia, Cel- 

 misia longifolia (very plentiful), and Herpolirion novae-zealandiae. In an 

 open space among the Leptospermum scoparium, at an elevation of about 

 100 ft. above sea-level, I found a solitary specimen of Celmisia Sin- 

 clairii (?),* and also several plants of Caladenia Lyallii and C. bifolia. 

 Specimens of Prasophyllum Colensoi were also abundant. Pseudopanax 

 crassifolium, with occasional plants of Nothopanax Colensoi, is also fre- 

 quently Seen in the mixed dry heath. Near our camp, among very tall 

 Leptospermum scoparium, there was a mixed patch of plants, consisting 

 of Rubus australis, Pittosporum Colensoi, Coprosma foetidissima, Blechnum 

 capense, Polystichum vestitum, Astelia nervosa, Lycopodium volubile, Styphelia 



* Perhaps a new species. 



