446 Transaotions.—Botany, 
features in the sylvestral vegetation was the occurrence of large tracts 
of tea-tree forest (Leptospermum ericoides), these were so extensive and 
afforded such excellent firewood that for many years the chief portion 
of the Auckland firewood supply was derived from Waiheke. It is said 
that in addition to the supply from land in the possession of settlers, 
Government reserves wers illegally denuded of thousands of tons by 
squatters, who considered it a violation of first principles to pay any 
thing in the shape of royalty, or acknowledge the authority of a govern- 
ment that did not consider the assertion of its rights a matter of importance. 
The value of this tree for small piles and for fencing purposes tended 
largely to accelerate its destruction, so that notwithstanding its former 
abundance there is now very little to be seen in the island, and the trivial 
amount of firewood still exported is of inferior quality. | 
Amongst the ornamental trees and shrubs which abound on the island 
are Quintinia serrata, with its handsome peach-colouredblossom, Weinmannia 
silvicola, the flowers of which are much more showy than those of its 
southern ally, the ngaio, (Myoporum latum), Fuchsia excorticata, Olearia 
cunninghamii with its numerous corymbs of white flowers so well known 
throughout the colony; and O. furfuracea restricted to the north; Carmichalia 
australis, Metrosideros florida, Clematis indivisa, and many other species 
characteristic of the Northern forest. Two plants, however, require special 
notiee. Coprosma arborea, the largest species of the genus, forms a consider- 
able proportion of the less luxuriant forest growth in several localities, but 
as the wood of this tree gives off an unpleasant odour when burning, it is 
usually left standing by the firewood cutters, although occasionally sought 
after by the inlayer on account of its peculiar yellow colour. Alseuosmia 
macrophylla, so characteristic of the undergrowth of the Northern forest 
generally, is abundant in some parts of the island, its pendulous crimson 
flowers diffusing their grateful perfume over a considerable area. The so- 
called kauri grass (Astelia trinervia), is abundant in several of the forest 
districts. 
On the cliffs, and on the margin of forests by the sea, the splendid 
pohutnkawa (Me/rosideros tomentosa) attains a large size and is still plentiful, 
although often recklessly destroyed. Sapota costata occurs in a few sheltered 
bays, but itis rarely of large size, Pittosporum crassifolium is occasionally 
seen, but only near the beach; Hymenanthera tasmanica was observed on 
the Onitangi sands, and most of the ordinary maritime plants may be found 
by careful search. 
The open ground is covered with fern ( Pteris esculenta) or with scrubby 
manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), intermixed with a sparse growth of dwarf 
shrubs, grasses and other herbaceous plants: amongst the former, Poma- 
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