842 Transactions.— Botany. 
Art. XLVII.—On the Alpine Flora of New Zealand. 
By Joun Bucnanay, F.L.S., of the Geological Survey Department. 
[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 20th August and 21st September, 1881, 
and 2lst February, 1882.] 
Plates XXTV.-XXXV. 
Tux present contribution to the Alpine Flora of New Zealand has been pre- 
pared from collections of plants made during Dr. Hector’s geological visit 
to the Lake Districts of Otago in 1863-4, and more recently in the same 
districts including the mountains environing Lake Ohou, Canterbury, during 
Mr. McKay’s geological visit there in 1881-2. 
The first collection was submitted by Dr. Hector to Sir Joseph Hooker, » 
for identification, and as many of the plants proved new to science they 
were added to the ‘‘Handbook of the New Zealand Flora,” then in the 
press. Unfortunately good specimens of this collection were not retained 
in the colony for comparison and identification of future collections, and 
all our more recent alpine collections have been worked out since from 
description alone. 
The purpose of the present paper is not only to place upon record new 
species, but also to assist in naming them, by illustrations, those who 
take a popular interest in our beautiful Alpine flora; the spread of popula- 
tion towards the lake districts of the South Island having no doubt added 
greatly to the number of those who take advantage of their alpine neigh- 
bourhood to make collections. Many of our alpine plants are very beautiful 
when in flower, and when seen aggregated in close, often rounded masses, 
firmly adhering to rock surfaces in sheltered places of the mountains, where 
favourable conditions exist for their full development, they in many instances 
excel the gardener’s art. It is doubtful, however, if they will prove . 
success under cultivation, as certain conditions of life necessary for their 
healthy development only exist at great altitudes. The nearest approach 
to these healthy conditions of growth would be found under glass with 2 
warm temperature when growing and flowering, after which a long period 
of rest during winter under a low temperature would be necessary to prevent 
exhaustion. 
The altitudinal range of the New Zealand alpine flowering plants ¢* 
tends from 8,500 to 8,000 feet, but there is reason to assume that, but for 
the presence of snow, they would attain a greater altitude. Latitude in BO 
doubt an indefinite influence in plant distribution, being so much controlled 
by local influences that identical floras may be found on distant mountait 
ranges with botanical altitudes inverse to their latitudes. This may 
