General Öbservations. 45 
general distribution 130 or almost 70 p.c. are endemic, 40 Australian, 13 Sub- 
antarctic South American and ı1') Cosmopolitan, or nearly so. The larger 
families and genera of the coast and the number of species in each are 
as follows: — (Families) Compositae, 24, Scrophulariaceae, 19; Gramineae, 
18; Chenopodiaceae, 10; Cyperaceae, 9, Umöelliferae, 8, Filices and Rubi- 
aceae, 7, Potamogetonaceae, Cruciferae and Pittosporaceae, 6 and Aizoaceae 
and Araliaceae, 4; (Genera) Veronica, ı4; Olearia, 8: Coprosma and Senecio, 7: 
Pittosporum, 6 and Carex and Lepidium, 5. 
The following 9 families and 36 genera are with few exceptions coastal 
in New Zealand; they contain 44 species thus leaving 145 species or 76 p.c. 
of the coastal species related to inland plants’): — (Families) Nyciaginaceae, 
Aizoaceae, Corynocarpaceae*, Tiliaveae, Primulaceae, Sapotaccae, Myoporaceae*, 
Cucurbitaceae and Goodeniaceae*, — (Genera) Kuppia*, Zannichellia*, Zostera 
(Potamoget.), Spinifex, Atropis, Bromus* (Gramin.), Aydatella (Okatralep. 
Leptocarpus* (Restiac.), Macropiper* (Piperac.), Salzcornia, Rhagodia*, Suarda, 
Salsola*?) (Chenopod.), Pisonia (Nyctaginac.), Mesemöryanthemum, T elragonia 
(Aizoac.), Spergularia (Caryophyll.), Capsii (Crucif.), Clianthus* (Legum.), 
Euphorbia (Euphorbiac.), Corynocarpus* \Corynocarp.), Dodonara* (Sapindac.), 
Entelea (Tiliac.), Aibiscus (Malvac.), Siildocarpa, Meryta (Araliac.), Samolus 
(Primulac.), Szderoxylon (Sapotac.), Zryngium, Aptum* (Umbell.), /fomaea 
(Convol.), Avscennia (Verbenac.), Mimulus (Scroph.), Szcyos (Cucurbit.), Selliera* 
(Goodeniac.) and Soxchus*) (Compos.). 
ith regard to the coastal-inland species it is hardly possible to supply 
detailed: statistics. According as forest, steppe or heath approaches high- 
water mark so will a considerable percentage of its species be present. All 
depends upon the climatic and edaphic conditions of the locality, and in many 
instances, except close to the water’s edge, the special coastal ecological factors 
may be absent. But, on the.other hand, many inland plants tolerate fairly 
intense maritime conditions, so that more than 100 species thrive on one part 
or other of the coast-line. The following, for example, are, in places, suffi- 
ciently abundant to be of prime physiognomic importance: Freycmelta Banksıt, 
Arundo conspicua, Mariscus ustulatus, Cladium Sinclairi, C. junceum, Phor- 
mium tenax, P. Cookianum, Urtica ferox, Muehlenbeckia australis, M. com- 
2) It is well to explain that the figures given here and 'elsewhere in this book, are to 
some extent based on personal judgement. No two observers would be likely to agree as to 
whether certain species should be considered coastal or not. Also species of w ide distribution 
are not included in :he Australian or South Aineikieiene FRNalE, notwithstanding their occurrence 
in those regions, and, again, “wide distribu.ion”, "cosmopolitan’' &e. are quite loose terms. Finally, 
certain Australian speo’es are likewise South American and such are included in both categories. 
2) An as.er'sk denotcs that ine species thoush ncarly always coastal does u oceur 
inland. Should a species oceur at ICom or more altitude on a small island, or.a hill adjacent 
to the coast, it is here considered coastal. 
3) Perhaps not ind'genous. “ 
4) The opinion is here held that Sonchus littoralis (T. Kirk) CockAvne is the only ee Ä 
UORen SEEN KMU: : ee ae a 
