Kirx.—On the Naturalized Plants of Port Nicholson. 365 
In a future paper I purpose discussing in detail the position of natu- 
ralized plants with regard to the indigenous flora and their general effect 
on the progress of the colony, but for the present confine myself to a few 
remarks on certain species which exhibit features of special interest in this 
district. 
I may, however, point out that the gradual decrease in the number of 
species as we travel southwards, which to a certain extent characterizes the 
indigenous flora, is exhibited also by our naturalized flora. Comparing the 
naturaljzed plants of this district with those of Auckland, we find the pro- 
portion to be less than 1-25 to 2, Auckland having fully 400 naturalized 
species, Wellington under 250. Making a fair estimate for the number of 
species yet to be collected in the unvisited portions of this district, it can 
scarcely be expected that the total will exceed 800; and it may be added 
that the decrease is more strongly marked as we go further south. 
It does not appear that this increasing paucity of species is solely due 
to a lower temperature. The peach ripens its fruit as thoroughly about 
Wellington as in any part of. Auckland ; yet while a constant succession of 
young trees is produced in the northern district, they are so few about 
Wellington that, except in peculiarly favourable situations, the plant does 
not increase when left to itself. The potato exhibits the same difference in 
a still higher degree: it would stand a much better chance of becoming 
permanently naturalized in Auckland than in Wellington; while the fig, 
which never flourishes here except under cultivation, in Auckland, even 
when utterly neglected, holds its ground and increases by suckers, although 
rarely by seeds, which in all probability are seldom formed owing to the 
absence of insects capable of effecting its fertilization. Similar remarks 
apply to the vine, the Cape gooseberry, and other garden plants, whether 
producing edible fruits or otherwise; but, on the other hand, the Kentish 
cherry and garden gooseberry increase with great rapidity when left undis- 
turbed—the cherry both by suckers and seeds, the gooseberry by seeds and 
the rooting of the lower branches—so that a single wild plant sometimes 
forms a bush several feet in diameter. 
Ranunculus repens, L. 
Abundant in wet places, ditches, ete. ; more plentiful than in any other 
part of the colony. 
R. parviflorus, L. 
This species is becoming injurious in fields and cultivations, from its 
great abundance and densely tufted habit, which is quite unknown in Europe. 
It must not be confounded with the var. australis, which is indigenous. 
Glaucium luteum, L. 
Widely diffused on shingly beaches, and from its remarkable habit 
