200 SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Ecological Botany. 



brown) ; P. Hookeri (possibly similar in colour to P. criniferum) ; Myosotis capitata 

 (brilliant dark blue) ; M. antarctica (blue, according to the plate in the " Flora Antarc- 

 tica ") ; Veronica Benthami (blue) ; Epilobium confertifolium (pink) ; Gentiana concinna 

 (white, with reddish or purplish lines) ; G. cerina (white to crimson) ; G. antarctica 

 (colour ?, perhaps white, with reddish lines) ; G. antipoda (white, white with red 

 lines) ; Cdmisia vernicosa (disc purple, rays white, occasionally purple throughout) ; 

 C. campbellensis (disc purple, rays wliite) ; Aciphylla latifoUa (pale lilac, rosy lilac, 

 rosy purple, occasionally white) ; Aciphylla antipoda (bright purple, usually more 

 brilliant in colour than A. latifolia) ; A. acutifolia (white ?) ; Ranunctdus pinguis 

 (yellow) ; R. aucklatidicus (yellow) ; R. stibscaposus (yellow, with broad band of 

 brown on back of petals) ; Stilbocarpa polaris (yellowish-green, with ring of brown 

 at base) ; S. robusta (pale yellow, according to Kirk) ; Btdhinella Rossii (yellowish- 

 orange) ; Geum albiflorum (white) ; Colobanthus svbidatus (green). 



(D.) POLLINATION. 



As for the fertilisation of the plants, I can give but few particulars. Insects 

 are not numerous, if we except the blowflies. Many of the flowers, particularly the 

 endemic species, are very conspicuous. The wind most likely plays an important role. 

 Veronica elliptica and the subantarctic species of Cotvla are sweet-scented. Bxd- 

 binella Rossii is dioecious, and the male has much larger and more showy racemes 

 than the female. Metrosideros lucida and perhaps Dracophyllum longifolium are 

 fertilised by the bell-bird (Anthornis melanura). Cardnmine hirsuta var. corymbosa 

 has cleistogamic flowers. These are described at length by Cheeseman in his memoir 

 in this volume, 



(E.) SEED-DISSEMINATION. 



Almost all the plants have " seeds " suitable for spreading by means of wind 

 or birds.* Metrosideros lucdda and Dracophyllum longifolium have minute seeds, and 

 the remainder of the rata forest and scrub trees or shrubs have succulent fruits. 

 So, too, have the two Asteliads, Coprosma repens, Nertera depressa, and Pratia 

 arenaria. The TJncina and Acaena species have barbed fruits. Specially adapted 

 for wind carriage are the fruits of the Compositae and seeds of the Epilobia. The 

 grass " seeds " will be eaten by birds, and perhaps also those of the Veronica species, 

 though I have never noted birds so doing on the New Zealand mainland. So, too, 

 with the Umbelliferae and Ranunculi. But careful investigations are required in this 

 matter, and speculations, even from what appears obvious, are of little moment. 



(F.) VARIATION ACCORDING TO ENVIRONMENT. 



Change of position with regard to wind and altitude in many cases brings about 

 an alteration in form. Thus the whole of the forest-trees are to be found also as 

 shrubs a few feet tall in the mountain scrub, or in shallow gullies on the hillsides. 



On the open mountain-slopes, at an altitude of 300 m., on Adams Island, Draco- 

 phyllum longifolium forms small bushes only 22 cm. tall and 15 cm. through, whereas 

 in the forest it is a tree 9 m. tall, having a stout trunk. The case of Coprosma 



* This is by no means saying that they could be so spread over wide areas of water. Tlic stations 

 of species with regard to wind, the germinating-power of seeds, and many other ecological matters, 

 usually quite neglected in discussing seed-dissemination, must be considered before the likelihood, or 

 the contrary, of a plant being carried by wind or birds be decided on. 



