306 The Botanical Subdivisions of New Zealand. 
ing; Ranunculus Lyallü, Ourisia macrocarpa var. calycina, Celmisia coriacea, 
C. Armstrongü and Senecio scorzoneroides are extremely abundant; Oe 
acutifolia and Ascarina lucida are characteristic of lowland forest; the lianes 
Metrosideros florida and M. scandens are common and reach their southern limit 
‚in the S. ofthe district. The total number of species exceeds 742 of which the 
following are confined to the district: — Calamagrostis Youngü, Ranunculus 
Göllienanas, R. Grahami, Carmichaelia paludosa, Aciphylla' similis, Myosotis 
explanata, M. suavis, Neridee eiliata, Veronica Haastii var. EEE Brachy- 
come Thomson: var. polita, Celmisia Boweana, Olearia laxiflora, Haastia Greenei 
and Lewcogenes Grahami. 
13. The North Otago District (Southern province). 
This forms the southern portion of the steppe area of the South Island. 
‚ Itis bounded on the N. by the Waitaki River‘), on the W. by the eastern limit 
of the average westerly rainfall and on the S. by the average northern limit 
of the S.W. rain. The district is the driest in New Zealand. Forest, except 
in a few gullies in the E., is absent. Much of the steppe of the interior is 
now induced desert. Generally speaking, the alpine herbs are represented by 
far fewer individuals than elsewhere in the region for the tussock-grassland 
extends to the summits of the mountains. The total number of species is 
probably under 600 of which the following are ‚confined to the district: — 
Lepidium Kirkü, L. kawarau, L. matau, Carmichaelia compacta, C. curta, 
Myosotis albo-sericea, Limosella ERERN Veronica pimeleoides. 
14. The South Otago District (Southern province). 
This occupies the S.E. part of the island subject to the S.W. rain and 
gales. The boundary between this district and the Fiord district is not at all 
satisfactory, especially to the W. of Lake Wakatipu. The lowlands are occ- 
 upied by rain-forest, composed of few species as compared with that of the 
North Island, Danthonia Raoulii steppe and to some extent Sphagnum-moor. 
A considerable number of alpine plants descend to the lowlands, and some 
play an important part in the associations, e. g. — Astelia montana, "Herpolirion 
novae-zelandiae. Metrosideros lucida is often an important constituent of low- 
land forest. On the mountains, there are abundant herb-fields. The total 
number of species for the district is more than 750 of which the following 
_ appear to be restricted thereto: — Poa pygmaca, Carex Hectori, C. pterocarpa, 
Centrolepis ‚strigosa, Luzula micrantha, L. leptophylla, Gastrodia minor, Ranun- 
culus Berggreni, R. novae-zealand, diae, R. pachyrrhizus, Acaena Buchanani 
var. longe-filamentosa, Carmichaelia virgata, Gunnera mixta, Tetrachondra 
 Hamiltonii, Veronica amabilis,  Euphrasia umbellata, Lagenophora Zurpurea, 
Olearia ie Celmisia Poppelweltis, c Tionseni, Ce. RLRERS| Eobal 
a It a obablı =. more ee me de un Amy Ahr u, an ie 
ee . Country” 
x 
