460 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



Mentha Pulegium, Linn. Penny-royal 



First recorded by Cheeseman in 1882 from Whangarei, and several 

 places about Auckland. Its subsequent history in the North Island is 

 one of continued and rapid increase and aggression. The Agricultural 

 Department reported on it continually. In 1896 it was spreading about 

 Gisborne in the river beds and in old Maori plantations. In 1899 it 

 was proving a very troublesome weed in grassland ; very abundant in 

 the Auckland district, less frequent in Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Nelson 

 and as far south as Canterbury. I found in April, 1919, that in the 

 north of Auckland the flowers were visited by immense numbers of 

 the common butterfly Lyccena labradus (formerly known as L.phcebe). 

 In 1901 it was included in the Second Schedule of the Noxious Weeds 

 Act by Special Gazette Notice of 2Oth June, and in 1904 in the Third 

 (Noxious Seeds) Section by Gazette Notice of loth November. 



Mentha australis, R. Br. 



Reported by Cheeseman to be plentiful in 1877 on roadsides 

 between Raglan and Ruapuke, Auckland district. Imported from 

 Australia. It was also recorded from the Wairarapa by Kirk 1 . 



Thymus serpyllum, Linn. Thyme 



Recorded by Cheeseman in the Manual (1906) as an occasional 

 garden escape, in both islands ; not common. 



Calamintha Acinos, Clairv. Basil Thyme 



This species was recorded by Kirk in 1869 as occurring in the 

 Auckland provincial district, but Cheeseman in 1882 stated that it 

 did not appear to have been noticed of late years. It had not apparently 

 been observed again. 



Satureia hortensis, Linn. Summer Savory 



In 1876 Buchanan recorded this species from Kawau. It is not 

 uncommon as a garden pot-herb, but I do not think it is naturalised 

 anywhere in New Zealand. 



Melissa offitinalis, Linn. Balm 



First recorded from Ashburtpn as a garden escape in 1903 by 

 W. W. Smith. In the Manual (1906) it is reported as a garden escape 

 in a few localities throughout New Zealand. 



1 In 1870 Kirk recorded Mentha dentata from the neighbourhood of Auckland; 

 and in 1877 he named it in his list of the introduced plants of Wellington. The name 

 is of doubtful application. It is possible that Kirk saw one of the forms of M . sativa 

 or M. gentilis, which has not perpetuated itself in New Zealand. I do not know 

 the species. 



