Kirx.—Botany of Great Barrier Island. 89 
A very few species of plants form nearly the whole of the vegetation of 
the extensive swamps on the eastern coast: Cladium glomeratum, C. tereti- 
folium, C. junceum, C. articulatum, Typha “ angustifolia,” Gleichenia circinata, 
Drosera binata, Lomaria procera, Schenus, n.s., Eleocharis sphacelata, 
E. gracilis, Sparganium simplex, Triglochin triandrum, with three or four 
orchids or other small plants, and occasional tufts of Phormium tenas, 
comprise the whole. 
In the immediate vicinity of the Hot Springs, in the centre of the island, 
Gleichenia flabellata, Pteris incisa, and Paspalum scrobiculatum attain a high 
degree of luxuriance—the ferns being frequently from 5 to 7 feet in height 
when growing close to the stream, but at a few yards’ distance may be seen 
in their ordinary condition. 
Of about four hundred species of indigenous plants collected on the 
island, fully two-thirds are of general distribution, the remainder being 
confined to the higher parts of the ranges, paludal, arenarian, or of extremely 
local distribution, from causes unknown. 
But little has been done in the way of utilizing the vegetable productions 
of the island. The Kauri is almost entirely confined to the district in which 
the paleozoie rocks occur, only isolated trees or small clumps being found 
south of the Hot Springs. On the eastern side it could only be got out of 
the forest with great difficulty; but at Wairahi and Kaiarara it can be 
proeured with comparative ease, and has been largely cut to supply the saw- 
mills of the Great Barrier Company. The Pohutukawa, (Metrosideros 
tomentosa), so valuable for ship timbers, has scarcely been used except for 
firewood, although it is most abundant and attains unusual dimensions. 
Vitex littoralis and Leptospermum ericoides have been largely cut for fencing 
and firewood, and are now becoming comparatively scarce in some distriets. 
The bark of the Towai (Weinmannia silvicola) does not appear to have been 
collected for tanning purposes, although it is abundant in many places, with 
other trees whose bark might also be applied for tanning or dye uses. 
The following plants appear to find their south limit on the island :— 
Metrosideros diffusa. 
Pisonia wnbellifera. 
Gleichenia flabellata. 
The following appear to reach their northern boundary here :— 
Panax [sinclairii] discolor. 
Celmisia longifolia. 
Vittadinia oun 
Olearia [sp.] ap 
Utricularia rsp] ea re 
Phyllocladus glauca. 
12 
