328 Transactions. — Botany. 



7narltimus, L., and Jianunculus acauUs, with patches of Zoysia punge^is, Willd. 

 Deschampsia cmspitosa, Palisot, attains its northern boundarj at this part of 

 the hike. About hot springs at Ohinemutu a Chenopodium occurs with the 

 leaves farinose beneath, which in the absence of flowers or fruit I refer to 

 C. arnbiguum, notwithstanding the sub-erect flaccid habit. Leptocarpus 

 filiformis is abundant with Cladium junceum in a hot-water swamp. ViscuTn 

 salicornioides occurs sparingly on LeptospermuTrh ericoides, etc., in several 

 places near these springs, and flourishes in the steamy atmosphere. 



A few plants flourish on the heated mud, Limosella tenidfolia and 

 Glossostigma elatinoides exhibit remarkable luxuriance when the roots enjoy a 

 temperature of 90° to 95° Fahr. Scirpus lacustris flourishes in one or two 

 spots witli a temperature of 93° at the roots, but in others it appears scalded 

 and stunted at a much lower root temperature, probably the result of a sudden 

 increase in the temperature of the surrounding water. Fimhristylis dicJwtoma 

 is a most abundant plant in Ruapeka Bay, and is to be seen everywhere, 

 flourishing with a root temperature of 95°, whether growing on heated mud 

 or where a faint steam jet has broken through the crust. In these situations 

 it exhibits the greatest luxuriance, and contrasts forcibly with the pigmy 

 specimens growing in soil of the ordinary temperature. It is abundant near 

 the so-called sulphur sea, Te Arikivoa Bay, but so diminutive that it might 

 readily be passed without attracting notice, notwithstanding its peculiar habit, 

 and in size and development exactly resembling specimens collected at Peringa 

 and Te Pakaruna in the Lower Waikato. It is probable that the plant has 

 been conveyed to those habitats by Maoris travelling to the Waikato Heads. 



Lycopodiinn cornuum, L., a common plant about hot springs in all parts of 

 the world, is more abundant at Ohinemutu, often lining the sides of hot pools 

 and luxuriating amongst steam jets, its roots must often endure a much 

 higher temperature than 95°, but from accidental causes I was unable to 

 continue my observations in this direction. Pteris incisa, Thunb., was 

 usually associated with the Lycoj^odiuni, and showed a like partiality for a 

 warm atmosphere. Perhaps the most singular plant found in these situa- 

 tions is the terrestrial Alga, Chroolepics aureus, Mitt., which is abundant on 

 dead twigs, fern-stalks, etc., its clotted orange-brown filaments being often 

 conspicuous at a considerable distance. Wherever the traveller descries this 

 singular Alga in the brushwood before him he has a sure indication of the 

 close vicinity of a boiling mud-spring, or of heated vapours escaping from 

 treacherous ground, and should at once walk warily. The filaments of 

 specimens from this locality are much longer than in northern specimens. 



The absence from the Ohinemutu district of any of the tropical ferns found 

 in the vicinity of the hot springs further south is a singular circumstiince, for 

 which no explanation can be offered at present. On the other hand, the 



