AnusrRoxa.—On the Flora of the Province of Canterbury. 827 
tropical warmth of the deep ravines. Towering stems of tree-ferns, clothed 
with lovely mosses and Hymenophyllums, were to be seen raising their noble 
heads above the smaller trees and shrubs, whilst numerous lianes belonging 
to various species of Clematis, Rubus, Passiflora, Parsonsia, Rhipogonum, and 
Muhlenbeckia hung from one tree to another, connecting these giants of the 
forest together. Nearly all the trees of the peninsula are evergreen in 
character, indeed the only deciduous ones I know of are Plagianthus 
betulinus or ribbonwood, and the konini, Fuchsia excorticata. 
This constant evergreen character of our New Zealand vegetation is by 
most travellers described as sombre and gloomy, but I think that those who 
look deeper than the surface will find most beautiful features in many of 
the trees and shrubs composing this so-called sombre forest. 
The forest is composed of a remarkably large number of trees and 
shrubs belonging to genera of the most varied character and relationship. 
It is this mixed character which gives the peculiar charm to the New Zea- 
land flora in the eyes of a professional collector. The principal timber- 
trees of the forest on Banks’ Peninsula are :— 
1. The totara, Podocarpus totara, a fine stout-stemmed tree of the 
natural order Conifere, producing a reddish coloured wood, well known to 
all settlers; and which is now proved to be more durable than any other 
New Zealand timber, and to stand better in salt water than any other 
timber yet tried for that purpose. 
The totara was formerly abundant over the whole of the peninsula, 
but is now becoming scarce and more difficult to obtain. It thrives very 
well under cultivation, but takes a long time to mature its wood and for 
this reason it will not be much planted. 
2. The black pine or matai, Podocarpus spicata, another tree of the 
same family as the last, is still common on many of the spurs in the in- 
terior of the peninsula; though a useful tree it isin every way inferior to 
the totara. 
8. The white pine, Podocarpus dacrydioides, is not so common on 
Banks Peninsula as in some parts of the colony. This tree produces a 
well-known white wood, not durable, but easily worked and excellent when 
used for inside work. The white pine likes a moist soil, and consequently 
does not attain any great height on the slopes of the peninsula hills. It is 
very difficult to cultivate, and is a very slow grower while young, but seems 
to grow much faster as it gets older. 
4. The miro, Podocarpus ferruginea, is a much smaller tree than either of 
those just mentioned, and the wood is generally considered to be of inferior 
quality, though several instances have come under my observation where 
this wood has stood for several years in exposed situations without showing 
