192 NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 
Aciphylla pinnatifida ; Anisotome intermedia ; Dracophyllum Mennesui ; 
the coastal Myosotis albida ; the coastal Gentiana saxosa—this and the 
two preceding also extending to Stewart Island ; a whipcord veronica 
(Veronica Hectorr), V. Petriet, and V. dasyphylla ; Ourisia prorepens ; 
Olearia moschata (which also extends to the southern part of 
the Western Botanical District); and several celmisias, especially 
Celmisia ramulosa, C. Brownu, C. Petriei, C. lanceolata, C. Hectort, 
and C. argentea—this last also extending to Stewart Island. 
Forest climbs from almost the seashore to the tree-line on the 
mountains. It is frequently taxad mixed with southern-beech, 
especially Nothofagus Menzies and N. fusca, but only the former 
reaches the highest levels. Grassland is virtually wanting except 
above the forest, where Danthonia crassiuscula may be abundant. 
There is a dense coastal scrub, made up of veronicas (V. salicifolia 
var. communis, V. elliptica, and V. amabilis—this latter perhaps 
a hybrid between the other two), Olearia operina, and Senecio 
rotundifolius. 
The South Otago Botanical District depends for its rainfall largely 
on the southerly downpour. It includes the Southland Plain, as well 
as much mountainous and hilly country. In its high-mountain flora 
it has a strong relationship to that of the Fiord District. The number 
of species restricted to the district are not many: amongst others 
are Ranunculus Berggren, Acaena Buchanani var. longe-filamentosa, 
Carmichaelia virgata (a divaricating shrub), Veronica Poppelwellu, 
V. annulata, and Celmisia Poppelwellir. 
Much of the area was originally forest-clad, a common associa- 
tion of the southern portion being kamahi-rimu forest containing 
also much southern rata (Metrosideros lucida), the association being 
very like the ordinary forest of Stewart Island. Tall tussock- 
grassland with the red-tussock (Danthonia Raoult var. rubra) was 
an important feature of the Southland Plain, and still extends thence 
up the river-valleys and on to the hillsides. Sphagnum bogs are 
plentiful. A good many plants usually subalpine come down to 
sea-level. 
On ploughable land the agriculture of the district consists of 
rotation farming, in which spring-sown oats and Aberdeen turnips 
are conspicuous crops. Dairy-farming is a most important industry. 
Other features of the district are the ridging of turnips and the 
general application of burnt lime as a soil-improver. 
