POPPBLWBLL. — Botany of Ruggidy Mountains. 287 



Potamogeton Cheesemani. Farther up the valley the general appearance of 

 the country Jig brownish-green splashed with yellow and green. The first 

 is caused by the abundance of Leftosperniufn and the latter by Danthonia 

 Raoulii and Phormium Cookianum. In parts there are great stretches of 

 reddish-bro\\ai Le/ptocarpus simplex in the water, with Scirpus nodosus on 

 the lagoon-banks. In the very wet places with standing water Cladium 

 Vauthiera is also common. Here and there in the boggy places Gaimardia 

 cushions are common, with a few specimens of Oreobolns pectinatus and an 

 abundance of Carpha alpina. Farther up the valley the Droserae become 

 very abundant, and larger than the specimens Seen farther down. 



Growing under manuka in a fairly dry spot I noted some specimens 

 of Schizaea fstulosa var. australis and Caladenia Lyallii, also ErecJitites 

 scahenda and Agropyron scabrum. Near the head of the valley and just 

 abreast of the Ruggedy Mountains the swamp flora consisted of Carex 

 ternaria, Hypolaena lateriflora, stimted Veronica buxifolia and Cassinia 

 Vauvilliersii, Thelymitra longifolia (abundant) ; and T. uniflora and Scirpus 

 nodosus were also plentiful in patches. In this association Caladenia, 

 Erechtites, and Pratia were also plentiful. Near the bank of one of the 

 lagoons mentioned the following plants were growing, namely : Gunnera 

 prorepens, Scirpus nodosus, Ranunculus rivularis, Arundo conspicua, Viola 

 Cunninghamii, Lagenophora petiolata, Helichrysum, flicaide, with the usual 

 Hypolaena and Drosera and Celmisia longifolia. 



The most interesting facts collected on the trip are : — 



1. Those relating to the distribution of plants, thus — 



Celmisia rigida is a plentiful plant both near the coast and in sub- 

 alpine regions on the high hills both at Ruggedy and on Red 

 Head Peak. Dr. Cockayne mentions it as " evidently rare," and 

 " confined to coastal cliffs at south end of Mason's Bay," and 

 as " not subalpine." 



Celmisia Sinclairii m .* — Hitherto reported from Mount Anglem only, 

 in Stewart Island, but collected by me in Fresh-water Valley at 

 practically sea-level. 



Cordyline australis. — According to Cockayne, supposed to be only 

 in Fresh-water Valley, in the open. Not seen by me there, but 

 noted on the west side of Red Head Peak, in forest. 



Coriaria angustissima. — Not hitherto reported from Stewart Island. 



Asplenium bulbiferum. — A common plant generally in Stewart 

 Island, but not seen by me on the west coast. 



2. The mixed taxad forest on the ancient dunes. 



3. The importance of the wind factor in determining the distribution 

 of the species. 



4. The marvellous plasticity of many genera m accommodating them- 

 selves to their environment, especially Leptospermum, Celmisia, Coprosma, 

 Nothopanax, &c. 



* This plant differs materially from type, and may be a new species. Dr. Petrie 

 considers it such, and has taken my specimens for critical examination. 



