332 \ Appendix. 
denotes the former presence of forest which retreated urther west during a 
comparatively dry cycle of years. Eastwards, as drier conditions increase, the 
fern-heath gives place to tussock-grassland (now depleted). 
ı1. Page 156. Phormium swamp. 
. In aswamp several kilometres from Porirua Harbour (Western Wellington) 
there is an isolated piece of a much older association of a coastal stamp, 
evidently dating from a time when the ground would be exposed to brackish 
water. This is clearly demonstrated by the dominance of Leptocarpus simplex. 
The association stands out most distinctly from the Prormium which encloses 
it. There is abundance of Coiula asiatica; stunted Blechnum capense about 
half the height of the Zeptocarpus is plentiful; Euphrasia cuneata, dotted here 
and there, is an unexpected member; finally, there is stunted Phormium less 
than 30 cm. high. 
ı2. Page 168. Low tussock- -steppe. | 
The respective dominance of Festuca novae-zelandiae or Poa. Biespiaih 
depends upon the water-content of the soil, the first-named grass tolerating 
the driest conditions. According to the character of the climate, or the soil, 
both grasses may be present in about equal quantity, one or the other may 
| dominate, or either may be the sole tussock. But present distribution, owing 
Ba mies sheep-grazing and fire, is no criterion as to the composition of the primitive 
association. 
13. Page 174. Vertical distribution. | 
Glaciers descending to a low altitude bring about conditions favouring 
the presence of high-mountain species. This can be readily observed in the 
Hooker Valley and near the Franz Josef glacier. There is, 2 not rn the 
ROWERBE, but the ice-line to be considered. 
Er Base 202. Discaria toumatou. = 
A few weeks ago Professor J. PARK made the np discovery oftwo 
adult flowering bushes of Discaria toumaton, semi-juvenile in form. The twigs 
are slender, drooping, and not stiff, the spines are more or less soft and the 
flowers comparatively few. The plant ge well be considered as a form 
 growing under conditions of especial shade and moisture in the air, yet the 
® two ‚Saaken. are ‚side Mn hegeit wi the usual intense N form” of the. 
ne ei oentlönnt ia die Ertäeh, the North Oi 
Tg the an tree, Olearia Zineata. At the ER 
