iv PREFACE. 
The publication of the fragment left by Mr. Kirk made the want of a 
complete Flora still more apparent, and in April, 1900, the Government 
was pleased to intrust me with the preparation of such a work. While 
allowed full freedom of action in all details, I was instructed to follow 
the general plan adopted in Sir J. D. Hooker’s “ Handbook,” which, as 
is well known, was based upon that recommended many years ago by 
Sir W. J. Hooker for a uniform series of Floras of all the British 
colonies. With the view of keeping the work within the compass of 
one volume of portable size, I was further directed to confine it to 
the indigenous plants, thus departing from the plan followed by Kirk, 
who included all well-established naturalised plants, distinguishing 
them from the native species by a difference in the type. 
The ‘“‘ Manual of the New Zealand Flora,” which is the title adopted 
for the present work, is intended to comprise within a reasonable com- 
pass full descriptions of the whole of the indigenous flowering-plants 
and ferns found within the limits of the Colony of New Zealand, in- 
cluding not only the two main Islands, but also the outlying groups of 
the Kermadec Islands, the Chatham Islands, the Auckland and Campbell 
Islands, Antipodes Island, &c. I have also included Macquarie Island, 
for although it is politically an appanage of Tasmania, it is more closely 
allied in its flora and fauna to the Auckland and Campbell Islands than 
to any other land. In addition to the descriptions, I have given as fully 
as possible the geographical and altitudinal range of each species within 
the colony ; and, in the case of non-endemic plants, a short statement of 
their range in other countries. I have also inserted, in a concise form, 
such general information, whether economic or scientific, as appeared 
to be of sufficient value. Believing that the main object of a Flora is 
to afford a ready means of determining the name of any species for 
the purpose of ulterior study, I have endeavoured so to frame the 
descriptive matter as to facilitate the work of identification as much 
as possible. I have therefore prefixed to each order and each 
genus analytical keys in which the salient characters of the 
genera and species are contrasted. With respect to the deserip- 
tions themselves, they are in almost all cases original, and have 
been based on the actual examination of livmg or dried speci- 
mens, usually both. After their preparation they were compared 
with those of my predecessors, and particularly with those of 
Hooker and Kirk, when any additions or alterations that appeared 
