T. Kiek. — 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. Lindscea 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 Euggedy, and, as I was in- 

 formed, attains a large size in localities on the western side of the island, 

 the trunks being 3 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- 

 Imna 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 Phgenoganis in the present 

 paper, 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. 



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. 



