270 The Vegetation of the Subantarctic Islands. 
The growth forms of the 157 herbs and semi-woody plants are as follows: 
— ı. Annuals 5 consisting of, — tufted-form 3 (grass I, herbs 2); erect- 
branching herbs 2. 2. Semi-woody plants ı5 consisting of, — a. Spot-bound 
8 made up of tufted-ferns 4, straggling-form ı, erect branching ı, open cushion- 
form 2; 6. Wandering 7 made up of, — erect-branching 2, mat-form 5 
(grass 1). 3. Herbaceous 137 consisting of, — a. Spot-bound 87 made up 
of, — tufted-form 34 (ferns 3, grasses 26, rush ı, herbs 4); tussock-form ıı 
(rush 4, grass 7); rosette-form 22 (all herbs); cushion-form 8; orchid-form 7; 
straggling-form 2; mat-form ı (fern); erect-branching 2; d. Wandering 50 
made up of, — mat-form 28 (filmy fern 4, rush I, herb 23); erect-creeping 
9 (fern 7, grass 2); straggling-grass ı; turf-maker ı (grass); herb rosette 5; 
orchid 5, erect-branching herb ı. 
The 10 epiphytes are filmy ferns 6; tufted fern 3, and erect semi-woody plant ı. 
There is no need to give any details regarding special plants since this 
is done to some extent both when dealing with the physiognomic species and 
with the associations. The species of Anisotome, with their very large leaves 
in erect rosettes, are semi-mesophytic or sub-xerophytic representatives of the 
intensely xerophytic Aciphyllae of subalpine and alpine New Zealand.‘ At the 
same time, their leaf-anatomy shows various xerophytic features‘). : 
The chief characteristics of the leaves together with the number of species 
to each are as follows: — very large (over 20 cm long) 16; large (10—20 cm) 
8; of medium size (s—ı0cm) 26; small (2.5—3 cm) 44; very smali (less than 2.5 cm) 
72; thin 82; thick or coriaceous &c. 84; glabrous 145; hairy 2ı (tomentose 4). 
The most striking fact regarding the leaves of the Subantarctic plants is the 
oecurrence of leaves not only of great size but of distinctiy mesophytic cha- 
 racter amongst the endemzc species. This luxuriance is truly remarkable when 
the wind-factor is considered, but it must be pointed out that the leaves of 
several are only summer-green or semi-summer-green and that those of some 
are strengthened by stout veins. Moreover, special luxuriance is in harmony 
with considerable shelter and decrease in size combined with flattening to the 
_ ground comes on in proportion to increase in eXxPosure. Seo 
Speaking of some of the endemic species, the roots of Chrysobactron, 
Anisotome and Pleurophyllum are long, numerous, thick and fleshy. Several, 
including the cushion-plants (some of these 'non-endemic) have deeply des- 
cending tap-roots. In the case of creeping stems the roots are comparatively short. 
The flowers of some of the endemic species show colours almost if not 
quite unknown in New Zealand proper; examples are: — Pleurophyllum spe- 
ciosum (disc dark-purple, rays whitish-purple); Myosotis capitata (brilliant dark- 
blue), a most beautiful flower; M7. antarctica (blue); Veronica Benthami (blue); : 
) Anisotome Iatifolia has thiek, wrinkled eutiele; very thick-walled epidermal cells; strong. 
development of stereome below epidermis, continuing through leaf to the vaseular bundles 
stereome at margin of leaf; 4-layered palisade. A. antipoda has cuticle and epidermal cells 
above; stomata on both surfaces; subepidermal stereome; dense palisade and pneumatic 
‚in centre fl — en ee ae ee 
