184 Essays. 
Alopecurus geniculatus, Linn. 
Festuca duriuscula, Linn. 
Triticum scabrum, Br. 
Schenus pauciflorus, although strictly not a grass, forms grass-like tus- 
socks, and is considered the true snow-grass. It is sub-alpine. 
A variety of small flowering plants find their natural habitat in the open 
grass land, some species being very minute in size and hidden among the 
grass: in many places they form the chief part of the vegetation, choking 
out the grasses. : 
Species of the following genera may be found among them :—Ranunculus, 
Hydrocotyle, Discaria, Carmichelia, Coprosma, Rubus, Crepis, Taraxacum, 
Mentha, Lepidium, Spergularia, Cassinia, Senecio, Veronica, Pimelea, Aci- 
phylla, Hypericum, Raoulia, Vittadinia, Lagenophora, Gnaphalium, Orchidee, 
Leucopogon, Herpolirion, Anthericum, Nertera, Dichondra, Galium, Mimulus, 
Epilobium, Gunnera, Oxalis, &c.; and, in addition, three important plants 
well known in Otago—the common fern (Pteris esculenta), a plant which 
occupies large areas of ground almost exclusively ; flax (Phormium tenas), 
a plant certain to become so important in the manufacture of cloth fabrics, 
ropes, and paper, that the time will come when the farmer will be as anxious 
to secure crops of this plant as he is now to get rid of it; and the tutu. 
[There are probably three varieties of the Phormium tenax in Otago—two 
on the east coast, and one of limited distribution on the west. The two 
yarieties near Dunedin will be best distinguished by their seed vessels, the 
most robust plant having an erect 3-angled seed vessel, while the other has 
a drooping twisted seed vessel without angles.] Two species are found in 
Otago, Phormium tenax and P. colensoi, the former distinguished by an erect 
triangular capsule, and the latter by a drooping twisted capsule. The tutu 
(Coriaria ruscifolia) is only too well known from its destructive poisonous 
qualities, as it is probable that the amount of the losses sustained by the 
stock-owners and farmers in cattle and sheep, if realized, would have eradi- 
cated the plant from the grazing districts. The tutu is chiefly confined to 
the south-west of the province, being little known inland. Nothing is yet 
known of its poisonous principle, and much mystery prevails on the action 
of the poison. Those three plants, unfortunately for the farmer who has to 
clear the land for cultivation, attain their maximum of growth and number 
in the settled districts. 
The bush or forest flora might compare favourably, in variety, with that 
of a tropical climate, as it exceeds the northern forests of temperate Europe 
in number of species. This variety of species produces considerable diver- 
sity of colour, although no evergreen vegetation can possibly offer to the 
eye the varied tints of the autumn sere leaf, seen in countries with a 
