284 Transactions. 



wtermedia, the latter with very short leaves. On the hilltop, at 800 ft., 

 Celinisia rigida was still the most abundant plant, but Olearia nitida, 

 Blechnum capense, Styphelia acerosa, Veronica buxilolia, and Danthonia 

 Raoulii played an important part. 



Here and there Apium proslraturn was seen, along with Hierochloe re- 

 dolens, Suttonia rigida, Acaena Smiguisorbae, Pratia angulata, Gnaphalium 

 trinerve, Epilobium nerterioides, Geranium microphyllum, and Thelymitra 

 longifolia. Proceeding along the ridge, we entered a bit of a forest on a 

 low saddle, and emerged again at a height of about 700 ft. in a great wind- 

 funnel, where the alpine scrub showed very marked modification, from 

 the changed ecological conditions. The principal plants were Lepiospermum 

 scoparium (shorn to a low close mat), Metrosideros lucida (a much-branched 

 low-growing bush), Olearia Colensoi, Styphelia acerosa, Veronica buxifolia, 

 Dracophyllum longifolium, Nothopanax Colensoi, Coprosnm foetidissima, 

 Olearia nitida, Coprosma lucida, Griselinia littoralis, and Phormium Cookianum. 

 All these plants were cut oft closely by the wind to a height of only a foot 

 or two, imtil, as the hilltop was reached, they grew to about 4 ft. as they 

 merged into the forest, which, climbing up the sheltered side, met the 

 rounded top of the heath plants. On the bare patches among the afore- 

 said plants were nimierous small specimens of Cehnisia rigida and Aniso- 

 tome intermedia (?). The only other high open part inspected by me was 

 that of the higher portion of Ked Head Peak, which has already been dealt 

 with under the heading of " Rocks and Cliffs." 



(4.) FOREST. 



It is hard to draw the line between the coastal scrub on the west aide 

 and the forest. The high winds seem to considerably affect the association. 

 The only parts which seem to properly come imder the head of " forest " are 

 those in sheltered situations — namely, on the eastern slopes — although, as 

 the coast is receded from and the frontage belt of Olearia angustifolia, 0. 

 Colensoi, and Senecio rotundifolia begins to afford its shelter, the usual 

 " I\imu-Kamahi " association obtains a hold. On the eastern slope of the 

 bare hill to the south of Ruggedy Point, for instance, the following as- 

 sociation was noted : Weinmannio. racemosa, Dracophyllum longifolium, 

 Coprosma foetidissima, C. lucida, Nothopanax Edgerleyi, N. Colensoi, 

 Coprosma propinqua, Griselinia littoralis, Dacrydium cupressinum, Metro- 

 sideros lucida, with an undergrowth of Blechnum discolor, B. capense, 

 Astelia nervosa, and Car ex ternaria. On the tree- trunks were fringes of 

 Luzuriaga marginata, Polypodium diver si foliiun, Asplenium flaccidium, and 

 the filmy ferns. Here and there also were groups of the tree-fern Dicksonia 

 squarrosa. The general aspect of the forest was bro'wnish-green, from the 

 abundance of Dacrydium cupressinum. trees standing out above their fel- 

 lows, with darker patches where the roimded heads of the Metrosideros 

 lucida aj)peared, and intermediate splashes of a lighter colour where the 

 Weimnannia racemosa predominated. In the gullies were observed Rhipo- 

 gonum scandens, Rapanea Urvillei, Hemitelia Smithii, the floor-covering 

 being Blechnum discolor and B. capense, while the damp logs were covered 

 with Hymenophyllum dilatatum, H. sanguinolentum, Polypodium diversi- 

 folium, and P. australe. Near the edge of the forest Muehlenbeckia com- 

 plexa, Pseudopanax crassifolium, Tmesipteris tannensis, and Lycopodium 

 volubile were noted, with occasional specimens of Veronica elliptica. 

 Throughout this fore:;t, but not plentiful, specimens of Olearia Colensoi 

 and Senecio rotundifolius also grew, seemingly somewhat out of their station. 



