270 Transactions. — Botany. 



The plants peculiar to the broad but irregular summit of the mountain 

 are Panax smclarii, P. colensoi, Coprosma colensoi, Dracophyllitm latifolium, 

 D. urvilleanum., Myrsine salicina, Fagus menziesii, Libocedrus bidwillii, Phyllo- 

 cladus alpina, Hymenophylhim pulcherrimum, H. malingii. To these ought 

 to be added Cordyline indivisa according to the unanimous testimony of 

 Maoris, but I could not find it. 



The humidity of the top of the mountain makes it one of the most 

 favourable localities for ferns ; not only for luxuriance of growth, but also 

 for variety of species. This reference to the wonderful natural fernery on 

 the north-west slope, near the trig, station, will appear very tame and 

 common-place to any botanist who has the good fortune to visit the 

 locality on a fine day. 



The flowering plants, which are characteristic of the high peaks of the 

 Thames Range, are not found on Te Aroha Mountain. The absence of 

 Melicytus lanceolatus, Phebaliwn nudum, Corokia buddleoides, Metrosideros 

 albiflora, Panax discolor, Gaultheria rupestris, and Archeria racemosa shows 

 a botanical distinction between the Thames Range and that of Te 

 Aroha. 



At the altitude of 2,000 feet on the hillside were observed Olea cunning - 

 hamii, 0. lanceolata, 0. montana, Fagus menziesii, F. fusca, and some beauti- 

 ful specimens of Todea superba. This plant, which grows at 1,200 feet from 

 the summit of Te Aroha, is found within a few yards of the summit of 

 Pirongia. 



Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) grows plentifully at the same level, and 

 it is now being rapidly cut up for timber to be used in connection with the 

 mines. There are a few kauris (Agathis australis) scattered over the hill 

 side, which increase in number on descending to an altitude of 500 feet ; 

 but on the left side of the Wairongomai there is a large kauri forest. 



The most abundant plant on the hill side, spreading over damp rocks 

 and forming a dense network in every mountain rill, is parataniwha (Elato- 

 stemma rugosum), of which not a specimen exists in the Thames district. 



The plain at the foot of the mountain is very favourable to a variety of 

 plants, as it is diversified by long elevated mounds, wide swamps, the stony 

 beds of rapid streams, and the calcareous formation near the hot springs, 

 In the latter locality there are two plants, Chenopodium glaucum and Cotula 

 coronopifolia, not found elsewhere at Te Aroha. The abundance and variety 

 of native grasses are much less near the springs than four years ago. It 

 may be said of the plain generally that it contains several plants not found 

 in the Thames district, as Potentilla anserina, Myrtus pedunculata, M. ralpliii, 

 M. obcordata, Teucridium parvifolium, Cladium articulatum, Eleocharis sphace- 

 lata, Ophioglossum lusitanicum. The sedges mentioned are very abundant. 



