182 i . General Remarks on the High Mountain Vegetation. 
older plants as er chnots, especially on stems near wet ground. The 
species is abundant in mountain forests and scrubs from the Thames Moun- 
tains to Foveaux Strait and descends to sea-level in the W. of the South 
Island. | 
d. The two species of Gaya (Malvac.), Mountain ribbonwood. 
There are two species of Gaya, G. Lyallüi and G. ribifolia, which are of 
similar habit but differ somewhat in the flower, and especially in the leaf, that 
of the latter being less hygrophytic than that of the former. This is reflected = 
in their distribution, G. Zyallii occurring only where there is a rain-forest 
climate and G. rzdifolia where there is a steppe climate. Both are- small 
deciduous trees 4—6 m high, usually much branching from near the base and 
of a rather twiggy habit. The bark is smooth, pale-coloured and may be 
'peeled off in long strips. The leaves are diisröhe; they vary from the lobed, 
more or less orbicular juvenile to the but little hairy cordate adult of G. Zyallu 
furnished with a drip-point, and the broadly ovate adult, still faintly lobed, with 
truncate base and almost tomentose under-surface of & ribifolia. The bright 
‚green colour of the leaf of G; Lyalli resembles that of European deciduous 
trees; that of G. ridifolia is paler. The flowers of both species are large, 
white, showy, abundant, and not unlike cherry blossoms. Both species are 
= confined to the Southern province. G. Lyallii grows in both forest and sub- 
ee en sau: and G. Mate in ‚terrace-scrub. or it, forms small groves. 
u 
2. Serub Plants. 
2 es | . The hr Compositae. — Olearia, Senecio, Traversia. 
. Tall en ne or even small trees, are one of the most striking 
features of the subalpine belt; their form, the frequently grey colour of the 
foliage, and, in due season, be abundant flower-heads rendering them con- 
spicuous. The plants in question belong to ‚the zu Son, Senecia Ve and 
the endemic ee T raversia. 
in an a a A 2 quite open t 0 
but above Bemabte of: a en) mass. of a short: twigs the outer b 
leaf-bearing. rulı jaceous, and den 
oe 
et er: 5 0 
