188 Essays. 
“instances of this, fourteen species of Hymenophyllum ferns out of fifteen 
species known in New Zealand have been collected there, and thirteen 
species of Hookeria moss out of sixteen species known in New Zealand. 
A descriptive sketch of the leading botanical features that occur in 
passing up one of the principal valleys of the province, and the ascent of a 
mountain on the central range, with the knowledge acquired by the previous ` 
lists of plants known to exist there, will give an average idea of how they 
are distributed over the whole, and the changes that take place by altitude. 
For this purpose the valley of the Clutha will be selected. 
Before starting from the coast the littoral plants may be examined. 
The principal plants of a large size, peculiar to the coast line, are Veronica 
elliptica and Myoporum letum. Linum monogynum, although a littoral plant, 
is often found inland with other littoral species, probably lingering on old 
sea-margins. 
Sand-hills on the coast line have a peculiar vegetation of a remarkable 
sameness in species all round New Zealand. The following are always found 
there :—Euphorbia glauca, Pimelea arenaria, Scirpus maritimus, Desmoschonus 
spiralis, Convolvulus soldanella, Senecio lautus, Coprosma acerosa, Mesembryan- 
themum australe, Cassinia leptophylla, Geranium microphyllum. 
In little swamps near the mouths of rivers and along the coast will 
be found such plants as Samolus littoralis, Salicornia indica, Lepidium olera- 
ceum, Juncus maritimus. Again on banks will be found Tetragona expansa, 
Apium australe, Selliera radicans [Ruppia maritima], and many other small 
plants. There is one fern remarkably abundant on the Otago coast, both 
east and west, forming by its close growth little mounds (Asplenium obtus- 
atum var. obliquum). 
Proceeding up the river, the country for the first twenty-five miles 
consists either of plains or undulating low hills of open grass country, with 
patches of forest near the river or on the islands. Bush is also found in 
patches on the slopes of the higher hills which bound the valley. The bush 
here is a fair representation of that of the western region, consisting 
of species of Podocarpus, Dacrydium, Metrosideros, Weinmannia, Fagus, 
Sophora, Panax, Pittosporum, and a sprinkling of all the lesser plants. 
Patches of scrub are also found along the river, composed chiefly of 
Olearia virgata, species of Coprosma, Discaria, Leptospermum scoparium, and 
Carmichelia. 
: Swamps are frequent along the valley, in some places fringed by raupo 
(Typha angustifolia). This plant continues encroaching and filling up lagoons, 
and forming a bottom for many others, such as Carex gaudichaudiana, Carex 
ternaria, Cyperus ustulatus, Luzula campestris, L. pumila, Carex virgata 
(nigger-head of the settlers), and mosses, all playing an important part in 
