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T, Kirg,—On the Botany of Islands in the Hauraki Gulf. 451 
height of from fifty to eighty feot, with a trunk from two to three fect in 
diameter; in its natural condition it rarely flowers before attaining tho 
height of from twenty to thirty feet, but on Rangitoto compact charming 
specimens one to three feet high were covered with brilliant flowers; scarcely 
m plant was to be seen over twelve feet in height, but nearly all were 
splendidly in flower. Near the base of the cone I observed two specimens 
of a peculiar form of this species, with the leaves and flowers of smaller 
size than in the typical form; the leaves glabrous and coriaceous, closely 
approaching AM. polymorpha, Griselinia lucida exhibited a similar pheno. 
menon, specimens of the staminate plants being covered with panicles of 
yellow flowers, much more deeply coloured than I have seen them elsewhere, ` 
and forming a strong contrast with the fiery crimson of the pohutukawa, ` 
Metrosideros robusta was less common than its close ally, but occasionally 
attained a larger size, being only exceeded in height by Pittosporum crassi- 
folium, Other trees occurred in a similarly dwarfed condition, as Alectryon 
excelsum, Tetranthera calicaris, ete., but all were cast into the shade by tho 
bright flowers of the ratas and Griselinia. The vegetation of the cone itself 
is extremely meagre, diminutive specimens of Leptospermum scoparium and 
Pomaderris phylicifolia are mixed with species of Geranium, Gnaphalium, 
Epilobium, Erechtites, and especially with Vittadinia australis, a plant deci- 
dedly rare in the vicinity of Auckland, The whole presented but few 
points of interest. 
I append a list of the plants catalogued on this remarkable island, and 
with a few observations on the cause of the peculiar coudition of its ligneous 
vegetation will conclude this paper. 
It has been pointed out that while the plants of this section are 
depauperated as to size, yet in other particulars they exhibit the greatest 
possible luxuriance; pigmy specimens of pohutukawa, Griselinia and others, 
develope foliage and flowers of larger size and brighter colours than those 
Produced under the most favourable circumstances. 
This result can only be attributed to the joint operation of two causes : 
the large amount of moisture present in the atmosphere, and the extremcly 
comminuted condition of the small modieum of soil from which the plants 
extract their nourishment. The latter condition admits of a freer circulation 
of air, saturated with moisture, about the roots than is possible iu stiff 
soils, and facilitates the absorption of the mineral constituents which are 
requisite for the growth of the wood, while the limited quantity in which 
these elements are available, and the brief occasional checks to growth 
during periods of drought, have a direct relation to the reduced size of the 
plants. The influence of atmospheric moisture is shown in the luxuriant 
and glossy foliage, thus affording another proof, if such be wanting, of the 
