The Biology of the Coastal Plants. 59 
up of, — mat-form ı6 (fern filmy ı, grass ı, herbs 14); erect-creeping 7 
(fern ı, rush 2, grass ı, herbs 3); turf-making 7 (grass 2, rush ı, rosette-herb 1, 
creeping-herbs 3); sand-binders 2 (grass) and rosette-herbs 3. 
oming now to the leaves 7 species have very large leaves (over 20 cm 
long), 8 large (10—20 cm); 15 of medium size (5>—ıo cm); 36 small (2.5—5 cm); 
39 very small (2.5 cm and less); 74 succulent, thick or coriaceous; 31 thin; 
94 glabrous and ıı hairy (tomentose 2). | 
A few species demand brief mention. Plantago Hamiltonii possesses small, 
rather broad, thickish, coriaceous, shining green leaves which overlap forming 
evenly shaped flat rosettes which grow so close together as to form a hard 
turf. Gunnera arenarıa another rosette-plant makes large circular flat mats. 
Eryngium vesiculosum of salt-meadow has small rosettes of stiff, prickly, grey 
lanceolate leaves 10 cm long and by means of stolons it rapidly forms exten- 
sive colonies. Sfzldocarpa Lyallii, of coastal scrub in Stewart Island, travels 
by means of stout hollow stolons 60—75 cm long which arch above the ground. 
At a certain stage in the growth of a stolon, a young plant is developed at 
its extremity which will possess 2—3 leaves before the young rhizome bent 
to the ground by the arching of the stolon will have rooted. Extensive col- 
onies many square metres in area of this striking plant with its great bright- 
green, long-stalked, orbicular-reniform leaves, are formed in this manner, the 
stolons passing, in some instances, beneath rocks (see plate II), so that plants 
widely apart may be actually in connection. 
There are 6 submerged water-plants, 4 of which have much branched 
thin filfform stems and leaves, and 2 have she leaves and RESTDINE 
rooting rhizomes. 
There is little of special ent to say concerning the stems of the 
coastal herbs. In general they are slender. Three of the ferns at times build 
short trunks with a maximum of some ı5 cm in height, but this is in the moist 
climate of the S. The rhizomes of the sand-binding Scirpus and Spinifer attain 
an amazing length. Urtica australis growing amongst shingle has a thick, woody 
prostrate stem. Zuphorbia glauca, a dune-herb, has unbranched aerial stems 
more than ı m ‚high, stout, terete and marked on the lower two-thirds with old 
leaf-scars. 
The roots, in many cases bear a distinct relation to the habitat. Those 
of rock, dune and shingle are frequently of great length, but those of salt- 
swamp or salt-meadow are usually of medium length. The roots of dune species 
are often copiously provided with hairs to which the sand clings forming an 
investing layer. Leptocarpus simplex, as a plant of certain dunes of North 
Auckland, forms a stout trunk out of its roots and rhizome After the manner 
of Carex secta, az not ee so bie. ee the S. | Ale babe. seems age 
r) Tr e a ‚used ee ie a 
