390 Transactions. — Botany. 



The following are some of the most interesting plants in the list ap- 

 pended to this paper : — 



Veronica pubescens. — A shrub 1|— 2 feet high, covered in all its parts with 

 a soft white pubescence. It closely resembles V. salicifolia, and indeed an 

 intermediate plant grows on Shoe Island, Tairua, and also near Paoraka, 

 Thames. This plant has not been collected since the time of Banks and 

 Solander. % 



It grows on precipitous rocks on the sea side of Paku at the mouth of 

 the Tairua river. 



Ehabdothamnus sp. — This plant differs much in habit from R. solandri. 

 It is a straggling shrub, 7-8 feet high, with long, straight, brittle, fastigiate 

 branches. Branches, leaves, and twigs very hirsute. Leaves lf-2 inches 

 long and 1-| inches broad, orbicular. Flowers large, peduncles % inch, 

 sepals | inch, corolla 1 inch. Capsule ovoid, longer than the calyx. Mr. 

 Cheeseman considers it a variety of R. solandri, but I think he admits 

 the distinction as great between the plants named as between Veronica 

 salicifolia and V. macrocarpa. The plant was found on Shoe Island, 

 Tairua. 



Quintinia elliptica. — This plant is found near the summit of Pakirarahi, 

 but I agree with Mr. Cheeseman that there is no specific distinction between 

 it and Q. serrata. 



Fagus menziesii. — I was surprised to find this plant abundant on the 

 secondary range near Puriri Springs. The leaves differ slightly from the 

 South Island specimens. Flowers and fruit not seen. 



Pimelea buxifolia. — This is another plant from Pakirarahi. It agrees 

 exactly with the description in the " Handbook of Zew Zealand Botany," 

 except in the height. The few specimens seen were not more than 2 feet 

 high. 



Marattia fraxinea. — It is curious how this plant should have so long 

 escaped observation ; as there is a large number of plants, though local, in 

 the Tararu Creek, near the base of a look-out rock. The Maoris say it is 

 found at Kuitarakihi, and on the Pepe near Tairua. They were accustomed 

 not only to eat the subaerial rhizomes, but also to plant them in suitable 

 places in the bush. 



There is no exaggeration in saying that the forests within six miles of 

 Thames are rapidly disappearing, and many plants, formerly common, are 

 now become extinct. As an example I may mention Fagus fusca which 

 Mr. Kirk speaks of as plentiful, but at present there is not a specimen 

 nearer than Puru Creek. Several other plants, as Parietaria debilis and 

 Holier ia populnea, are extremely rare. 



