T. Kmx.—On the Flowering Plants of Stewart Island, 225 
Poa foliosa, Hook. f. The typical form; a noble species, producing an im- 
mense yield of herbage. Observed only on Herekopere Island; but a 
native informed me that it was to be found on several headlands near 
the South Cape. Plentiful on the Auckland and Campbell Islands. 
The total number of Phsenogams observed on the island is about 380, 
one half being species generally distributed throughout the colony. From 
the small amount of variation exhibited in the plants of different distriets, 
except under changed conditions, I see no reason to anticipate any large 
additions to this number, not more than from 12 to 15 per cent. at most, 
and in all probability less than 10 per cent.; but amongst these additions 
several species new to science may fairly be anticipated, as well as others 
at present known only from the Auckland and Campbell Islands. 
The absence of many species of general distribution is most remarkable, 
and in most cases not easy to be accounted for. Not a single leguminous 
plant has yet been observed, although Sophora and Carmichalia are found on | 
the opposite side of the strait. Dodonga, Melicope, Pennantia, Hoheria, are 
altogether wanting; still more singular is the apparent absence of Ozalis, 
Pelargonium, Daucus, Galium, Microseris, Scleranthus, and other genera. 
The spear-grasses of the South Island are represented by a single endemic 
species only, Aciphylla traillii, The white pine, Podocarpus dacrydioides, does 
not appear to occur on the island, the common name being applied by the 
bushmen to Dacrydium intermedium. Podocarpus spicata is extremely rare, 
and P. nivalis has not been observed. More remarkable still is the total 
absence of the beeches, although Fagus cliffortioides, F. menziesii, and F. 
fusca descend to the sea-level on the opposite mainland. The absence of 
the toatoa (Phyllocladus alpinus) is equally noteworthy. 
A striking peculiarity of the flora of Stewart Island is the occurrence at 
sea-level of numerous species usually restricted to alpine or sub-alpine situa- 
tions. Amongst these may be enumerated :— 
Claytonia australasica, Drosera arcturi, 
Hydrocotyle muscosa, Liparophyllum gunnii, 
Actinotus nove-zealandia, Veronica buxifolia, 
Olearia colensoi, Drapetes lyallii, 
Celmisia petiolata, Dacrydium colensoi, 
Senecio elæagnifolius, i laxifolium, 
Oreostylidium subulatum, Caladenia bifolia, 
Cyathodes empetrifolia, Centrolepis monogyna, 
Pentachondra pumila, Oreobolus stricta, 
Dracophyllum longifolium, »  pumilio, 
Gentiana saxosa, Uncinia rubra, 
Drosera stenopetala, Hierochloe alpina. 
