Seasonal changes. 199 
fohum, Ourisia sessiliflora and Forstera sedifolia. On the Tararua Mts during 
the last week in December AsTON noted as blooming (1910a: 13 et seq.), — 
Phormium Cooktanum, Caladema bifolia, Pimelea. Gnidia, Drapetes Dieffen- 
bachii, Aciphylla conspicua, Veronica buxtfolia, Forstera Bidwillü, Celmisia 
ut che C. spectabilis, Leucogenes l eontopodium and Abdrotanella. pusilla. 
e Waimarino plain (Volcanic Plateau district), at the same time as above 
and ee there are blooming in the tussock steppe or moor, — Herpolirton 
novae-zelandiae, Stackhousia minima, Aciphylla squarrosa, Wahlenbergia albo- 
marginata and Celmisia longıfolia. 
During January, on the northern and central Southern Alps, the greater 
' part of the shrubs are in full bloom, some having commenced to blossom by 
the end of December, and the subalpine scrub is lit up by the large cherry- 
like blossoms of Gaya Lyallii, the innumerable sweet-scented flower-heads of 
the shrub-composites?), especially, — Olearia slicifolia, O. macrodonta, O. num- 
mularifolia, O. avicenniaefolia, Senecio Bidwillüi and S.elaeagnifolius and various 
species of Veronica (V. salicifolia, V. subalpina). During January, many of the 
species of the Volcanic Plateau, at an altitude of 1000 m and upwards, are 
flowering freely and by the end of the month the majority are in bloom in- 
cluding such characteristic species as, — Pimelea buxifolia, Epacris alpına, 
Dracophyllum recurvum, Veronica laevis,. V. Hookeriana, V. spathulata, Ourisia 
Colensoi and Euphrasia tricolor. At the same season flowering is at its height 
on other North Island mountains when, according to locality, such important 
physiognomic plants are in full bloom as, — Ranunculus insignis, R. nivicola, 
Pimelea Gnidia, Gentiana bellidifolia, G. patula, Veronica Astoni, Ourisia macro- 
phylla, Celmisia glandulosa, C. spectabilis, C. hieracifolia, Helichrysum bellidi- 
oides var. prostratum, Leucogenes Leontopodium and Cassinia Vauvilliersi. By 
the middle of January, the vegetation of Mt. Anglem (Stewart District) is quite 
as much advanced as in the N. owing probably to its lower altitude and the 
insular character of the climate. Quite 80 p. c. of the florula is in bloom in- 
cluding Chrysobactron Gibbsit, Aciphylla Trailln, Dracophyllum politum, Veronica 
Laingüi, Celmisia argentea and C. linearıs. 
During February, the floral display of the high mountains continues, the 
shrubs are at their best in the early part of the month, herbs which at a lower 
altitude are in fruit are blooming in the alpine belt, so that in one place or 
another examples can be seen of nearly all the alpine flowers. The seeds of 
a few species are already ripe, e. g. — Uncinia uncinata, Ranunculus Lyalli, 
R. Buchanani, Epilobium pedunculare, E. glabellum, Anısotome filıfolia, Styphelia 
empetrifolia, 5. Fraseri and Cotula pyrethrifolia. : 
Even so late as the first two weeks of March, flowers are still be seen in 
certain localities especially in the Fiord district where Carmichaelia grandiflora, 
1) The extremely floriferous Olsaria arborescens is the earliest species to flower and in some 
localities its blossoms are opening by the end of November. “ On the other hand, 0. mosc habt is 
in full bloom on the Takatimu Mts (South Otago distriet) at the De of March. 
