T, Kmx.—On the Flowering Plants of Stewart Island. 227 
open air. The peach is never touched by frost. Eucalyptus globulus grows 
luxuriantly—but it is needless to multiply instances. Similar testimony is 
afforded by the robust health of the settlers, their freedom from affections of 
the respiratory organs, and the rarity of deaths from sickness, as well as by 
the vigour of the children. 
To what cause then must the occurrence of numerous alpine plants at 
low levels be attributed? Unquestionably to the remarkable equability of 
the moist mild climate characteristic of the low lands. For it is especially 
worthy of remark that, while the majority of the alpine plants found at sea- 
level on Stewart Island occur also on the higher slopes of Mount Anglem, 
they are rarely to be found at intermediate heights below 2,000 feet. 
It is to this equability of climate that the occurrence of a few character- 
istic northern plants in the extreme southern part of the colony must be 
attributed. Lindsea linearis, a fern common in the Auckland District, rare and 
local elsewhere, and altogether absent from the eastern side of the South 
Island* is abundant and often luxuriant, growing side by side with Penta- 
chondra pumila, Cyathodes empetrifolia, Centrolepis monogyna, etc. Eleocharis 
sphacelata, not unfrequent north of the Waikato, has a single habitat in the 
Taupo District : but in the South Island has only been observed at Okarito 
and Bluff Island. It occurs freely in deep bogholes at the head of the 
northern creek running into Paterson’s Inlet. Dacrydium kirkii, only known 
elsewhere to the north of Auckland, occurs on Ruggedy, and, as I was in- 
formed, attains a large size in localities on the western side of the island, 
the trunks being 8 feet in diameter. It should, however, be mentioned that 
the identification is made in the absence of flowers or fruit. Campylopus 
kirkii, previously known only from the Great Barrier Island, is abundant 
in the low valleys between Paterson’s Inlet and the west coast.  Micro- 
lena stipoides, a grass decidedly impatient of frost, is found at the Neck and 
other places. 
I do not propose to include a list of the Phenogams in the present 
r, as one has been already given by Mr. Petrie, and although the 
number recorded by him has been nearly doubled, so much of the island 
remains unexplored that a complete list could not be presented; but I pur- 
pose giving a detailed account of the ferns and allied plants in a future 
paper. se 
The equable character of the climate, especially in sheltered inlets of 
the sea, is so conducive to health, that in a few years it will doubtless 
attract many residents from amongst the wealthy merchants of Dunedin 
and Invercargill. The shores of Paterson’s Inlet, Port William, Horse- 
shoe Bay, and similar localities, will be dotted with villas, relieved by the 
* It occurs in somewhat small quantity on the western face of the Bluff Hill. 
