8 Dendy, The Chatham Islands. 



composite, Olearia seniidentata, with large purple flowers 

 resembling the Michaelmas daisies of our gardens. This 

 species is peculiar to Chatham Island, but closely related 

 to a species found in S.-W, New Zealand; it occurs in 

 large patches on the open moors. 



The beautiful "Toi-toi " grass {Arundo conspiaia), with 

 its tall feathery plumes, may also be mentioned as a moor- 

 land plant, and is likewise a conspicuous feature in the 

 New Zealand landscape. The remarkable genus Aciphylla 

 (nat. ord. Umbelliferae), so characteristic of New Zealand, 

 is represented by at least one species which may be 

 endemic ; and amongst the smaller herbs may be 

 mentioned the genera Acczna, Epilobmm, Lobelia, Libertia, 

 and the orchids Pterostylis and Chiloglottis. 



The Coast Flora. — It is, of course, impossible to 

 draw anything like a sharp line of distinction between 

 the vegetation of the sea-coast and that of the forest and 

 moorland ; indeed, the entire flora of Chatham Island is 

 in the main of a coastal character, and the forest itself 

 may come close down to the sea. Nevertheless there are 

 certain plants which are more or less distinctively shore- 

 dwellers. Amongst these maybe included a remarkably fine 

 Olearia which grows on Pitt Island, forming a large shrub 

 with very handsome purple flowers. This plant is closely 

 related to Olearia chatliamica, another endemic species of 

 the larger island. A small Coprosma, known as the "mutton- 

 bird plant," grows around the entrances tothe mutton-bird's 

 burrows. Veronica chathainica, an endemic species, trails 

 over the low cliffs, and is a very handome plant. 

 Geranium traversii is a pretty little pink or white-flowered 

 plant, also peculiar to these islands. Mesembryanthemum 

 australe and SoticJins oleraceus are well-known New 

 Zealand plants. Leucopogon richei, one of the Epacrids, 



