Jan. 1911.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 121 
the irregularities (see Plate XI.). While being raised up, 
and the supporting rock hidden, the cushion appearance 
becomes still more marked. 
As for the other species of Raoulia mentioned above 
they are fairly common, though not nearly so abundant as 
on montane or lowland river-beds of the drier localities. 
The hoary xerophytiec moss Racromitriwm lanwginosum, 
forming small cushions, or patches, is extremely abundant 
and of physiognomic importance ; indeed it is almost the 
first-comer on ground beyond the reach of floods. This 
moss becomes exceedingly dry during fine weather, and 
the long hyaline points to the leaves are pressed against 
the shoot and so much increase the hoary appearance, 
since when wet the leaves expand, are held semi-horizon- 
tally, and the points project outwards. A yellow, low- 
growing moss, which also dries rapidly, is very common, 
occupying the chinks between the stones. Small colonies 
of a white fruticose lichen, a species of Cladonia, are here 
and there. 
Another common plant of this early stage is that very 
curious grey-coloured shrub, Helichrysum depresswm, 
looking, with its rigid stems and few scale-like grey leaves, 
even when at its best, more than half dead. 
As soon as these early xerophytes are established, other 
plants make their appearance, the “seeds” brought by the 
wind or other agencies; but, generally speaking, they 
cannot thrive upon the stony ground, and, with certain 
exceptions, those alone gain a footing whose seeds light 
upon the cushions of Raowlia Haastii. There, thanks to 
the abundant moisture contained within the cushions, and 
to their peat-content, the seeds germinate and the young 
plants thrive. On one cushion, and this was a fair average, 
the following were present: small plants of Poa Colensoi 
(Gramin.), small rosettes of Wahlenbergia saxicola 
(Campan.), some Styphelia Fraseri (Epacrid.), Hydrocotyle 
nove-zelandic (Umbell.), its leaves pressed closely to the 
cushion, Microlis wniflora (Orchid.), stunted Lycopodium 
fastigiatwm (Lycopod.), and a few small woolly rosettes of 
Craspedia wniflora (Compos.). The “seeds” of these and 
other plants falling upon the Raoulia cushion are firmly 
held between the shoot-apices, while the frequent rain 
