264 TUTIRA 



has taken root. The original patch increases exclusively by spread 

 of roots. 



As remnants of conquered races take refuge in the mountains, so 

 amongst rocks do persecuted plants longest survive. Cape-gooseberry 

 (Physalis peruviana) still manages to hold out precariously in the 

 crannies of certain limestone cliffs. The only plant of tobacco (Nico- 

 tiana tabaccum) got by me on Tutira was procured as far back as 

 '83, also beyond the reach of stock, on one of the huge limestone 

 quadrilaterals of the Racecourse paddock. Each of these plants had 

 doubtless escaped from native cultivations in very early times. 



Of the species included in this chapter, few have spread beyond a 

 couple of miles, whilst several survive only by suckering or the carriage 

 of broken branchlets in floods and landslips. Six years ago it would 

 have been correct to say that asparagus, elderberry, box-thorn, barberry, 

 gooseberry, raspberry, red-currant, and honeysuckle had strayed but a 

 score or so yards from garden and orchard. That is no longer the case. 

 Alien birds are year by year proving more active agents in the dissemi- 

 nation of alien vegetation. The blackbird, thrush, and minah especially 

 are becoming more and more parasitic to garden and orchard ; by them 

 seeds are being carried season by season further afield. 



