184 A NEW ZEALAND NATURALIST'S CALENDAR. 



out by a small pore or hole at the top. The same mode 

 of opening is better seen in the rhododendron, in which 

 the flowers are so much larger. 



Another very common heath, which grows abundantly 

 in dry grassy ground on the Town Belt and elsewhere, and 

 which is perhaps best known by its small orange-coloured 

 and orange-smelling fruit, rejoices in the name of Leu- 

 copogon Frazerl. The name of the genus is derived from 

 two Greek words meaning "white beard," and its appro- 

 priateness is seen by looking into the tube of the corolla 

 and observing how it is nearly quite closed up by hairs. 

 The object is clearly to keep out small insects and all those 

 which are unable to fertilise the flowers. This work is 

 done by moths which have a long and slender trunk. 

 They are attracted to the flowers by their powerful 

 fragrance and by the large drop of nectar at the base of 

 the corolla tube. Their trunk passes easily through the 

 hairs, and in pushing their heads forward they no doubt 

 convey the pollen which they get on the front part from 

 flower to flower. 



Besides the plants mentioned, many others are now to 

 be found in blossom. The common white-flowered flax 

 (Llnuin moiiogynuni) occurs on rocky and sandy ground 

 along the whole sea coast. On Tomahawk Head and 

 similar spots a minute stemless buttercup (Ranunculus 

 acaulis) may be seen thrusting its little golden flowers an 

 inch or so above the sand. Several Olearias, Celmisias, 

 and other composites begin to display their blossoms, as do 

 the little white and blue bells (Wahlenbergia gracilisj. 

 Those who are near the bush should now look out for the 

 little clusters of flowers on the pine trees. There are 

 seven different kinds of conifers (so-called) in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dunedin, and very few people even seem to 

 know that they flower just as regularly as other trees. 

 They are the cedar (Libocedrus bidicilli), red and yellow 

 pines (Dacrydium cupressinum and D. colensoi), and four 

 species of Podocarpus, viz., miro (P. femigineus), black 

 pine or matai (P. spicaius), white pine (P. dacrydioidesj, 

 and totara (P. totara). The cedar has small cones, but 



