228 SUBANTARCnC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. [Ecohgical Botani). 



is by no means uniform in its composition, such distinctions are somewhat artifical, 

 and that it is best to consider the formation as one whole. 



On the slopes from the shore near the landing-place great tussocks, 1 -5 m. tall, 

 of Poa Utorosa with thick trunks grow so closely together out of the wet peaty soil 

 that it is hardly feasible to force a passage between them, and it is much more easy 

 to walk upon their tops, stepping from tussock to tussock. Poa foliosa and Carex 

 trifida also occur to a limited extent. 



Proceeding inland, by degrees the tussock-trunks become lower, while much 

 Polystichum vestilum enters in, so that at first glance it might appear that these two 

 species alone were present. But this is not so, for where the tussock and fern are 

 less dense, and as the distance from the sea increases, both decrease in size, and 

 there enters into the formation much bright-green Aciphylla antipoda, pale bluish- 

 green Acaena Sanguisorbae var. antarctica (climbing over the tussocks), and the 

 tender green fern Histiopteris incisa. 



The soil consists of a rather loose brown peat, so soft that a stick can be thrust 

 deeply into it. Even in winter water cannot be wrung out of the surface soil, but 

 this can be quickly kneaded into the consistency of porridge. The surface of the 

 ground is most uneven, owing partly to the dead trunks of grass or fern forming 

 mounds, and partly to hollows of varying depth. It can easily be seen that the 

 tussocks and Polystichum afford a considerable amount of shelter for low-growing 

 plants, so that in the numerous spaces there is a rich vegetation, made up, however, 

 of but few species, of which the following are the most important members : The 

 ferns — Blechnum penna marina, B. capense, Asplenium hvlhijerum (a small, thick- 

 leaved endemic form which might perhaps be referred to A. flaccidum), Hypolepis 

 millefolium, Pratia arenaria, Luzula crinita, Epilobium linnaeoides, E. alsinoides 

 (hitherto so referred, but most likely some other species), Stellaria decipiens var. 

 angu^tata, Lycopodium fastigiatum, L. varium var. polaris, Helichrysum bellidioides, 

 CojyrosmM repens, C. cuneata (very stunted plants), the filmy fern Hymenophyllum 

 multifidum forming large mats upon the ground, and growing in company with the 

 liverwort Tylimanthus homxymallus (?) and certain mosses, frequently burying its 

 curled-up fronds amongst their leaves. Lichens are an especial feature of this 

 formation ; the following are common : Sticta Freycinetii, S. orygmaea, S. fUicina, 

 Cladonia aggregata, C. verticUlata, C. pycnoclada, C. gracilis var. campbelliana, Stereo- 

 caidon argodes, and Usnea articidata. Liverworts and a few mosses are abundant 

 on the surface of the ground — e.g., Pallavicinia connivens, Lepidolaena Menziesii, 

 Lophocolea pallida, Metzgeria glaberrima, Tylimanthus homomallus, and Leptostomum 

 inclinans. 



The flat meadow is not one unbroken formation, but all over its surface are 

 small bogs, more or less circular in outline. 



The upper slopes of the island are covered with immense tussocks of Poa Utorosa 

 and Polystichum vestilum, as elsewhere ; but where the shelter is greater the following 

 distinct combination enters in, which may be called the Coprosma-Stilbocarpa associa- 

 tion. This, as just stated, occupies the more sheltered positions. Stilbocarpa polaris, 

 usually quite pure, is dominant, the associated plants being Urtica australis, Poa 

 foliosa, Polystichum vestitum, and Coprosma ciliata, this last frequently with a semi- 

 spherical leafy crown about 1 -8 m. in diameter, the ultimate twigs close together 



