890 — (Transactions.— Botany. 
The following are some of the most interesting plants in the list ap- 
pended to this paper :— 
Veronica pubescens.—A shrub 14-2 feet high, covered in all its parts with 
a soft white pubescence. It closely resembles Y. salicifolia, and indeed an 
intermediate plant grows on Shoe Island, Tairua, and also near Paoraka, 
Thames. This plant has not been collected since the time of Banks and 
Solander. 
It grows on precipitous rocks on the sea side of Paku at the mouth of 
the Tairua river. 
Rhabdothamnus sp.—This plant differs much in habit from R. solandri. 
It is a straggling shrub, 7-8 feet high, with long, straight, brittle, fastigiate 
branches. Branches, leaves, and twigs very hirsute. Leaves 13-2 inches 
long and 13 inches broad, orbicular. Flowers large, peduncles j inch, 
sepals } inch, corolla 1 inch. Capsule ovoid, longer than the calyx. Mr. 
Cheeseman considers it a variety of R. solandri, but I think he admits 
the distinction as great between the plants named as between Veronica 
salicifolia and V. macrocarpa. The plant was found on Shoe Island, 
Tairua. 
Quintinia elliptica.—This plant is found near the summit of Pakirarahi, 
but I agree with Mr. Cheeseman that there is no specific distinction between 
it and Q. serrata. 
Fagus menziesii.—I was surprised to find this plant abundant on the 
secondary range near Puriri Springs. The leaves differ slightly from the 
South Island specimens. Flowers and fruit not seen. 
Pimelea buxifolia.—This is another plant from Pakirarahi. It agrees 
exactly with the description in the “ Handbook of Zew Zealand Botany,” 
except in the height. The few specimens seen were not more than 2 feet 
igh. 
Marattia frawinea.—It is curious how this plant should have so long 
escaped observation ; as there is a large number of plants, though local, in 
the Tararu Creek, near the base of a look-out rock. The Maoris say it is 
found at Kuitarakihi, and on the Pepe near Tairua. They were accustomed 
not only to eat the subaerial rhizomes, but also to plant them in suitable 
places in the bush. 
There is no exaggeration in saying that the forests within six miles of 
Thames are rapidly disappearing, and many plants, formerly common, are 
now become extinct. As an example I may mention Fagus fusca which 
Mr. Kirk speaks of as plentiful, but at present there is not a specimen 
nearer than Puru Creek. Several other plants, as Parietaria debilis and 
Hoheria populnea, are extremely rare. 
