340 Transactions. — Botany. 



MOTUKINO. 



At Motukino I observed a few specimens of Gaultheria fagifolia, which 

 was originally discovered by Mr. Colenso in this locality and has not been 

 found elsewhere, so that it must be considered one of our rarest plants. Not 

 more than five or six plants were observed, all of which were long past 

 flowering ; its fruited racemes were sometimes three inches in length, but 

 the calyx was in all cases unchanged. Although remarkably different in 

 appearance from G. antipoda, its habit and general aspect suggest the possi- 

 bility of its being an hybrid between that species and some form of the 

 protsean G. rupestris. 



Other rare or interesting plants collected here, Melicytus lanceolatus, 

 Panax anomala, Santalum cunninghamiij all of which occurred sparingly. 

 Gleichenia cunninghainii was abundant in a solitary habitat. Raoulia monroi, 

 and JR. hectori were rare and local. Asplenium colensoi was found in a solitary 

 habitat — the ditch of an ancient pa — but in a depauperated condition, the 

 largest specimen not being more than two inches in height ; the habit and 

 colour of this plant contrasted forcibly with the associated A . hookerianum. 

 Lycopodium selago was observed for the first time in the North Island, and 

 with Cassinia vauvilliersii, attains here its northern limit. 



The occurrence of littoral plants in the numerous inland localities stated 

 in this paper, affords the strongest support to the theory of the submarine 

 origin of the central portion of the island, so far at least as the lower lands 

 are concerned. I had occasion to draw attention to this subject when treating 

 on the botany of the Lower and Middle Waikato districts, and have pleasure 

 in recurring to it, as it demonstrates most forcibly the importance of geological 

 change as an agent in the distribution of vegetable life, a fact which has been 

 almost lost sight of by phyto-geographical students. 

 The following littoral plants were collected : — 

 Ranunculus acaulis, Banks & Sol. — E-otorua, Tarawera Lake. 

 Metrosideros fomentosa, A. Cunn. — Tarawera Lake, abundant, and of larf^e size ; 



Lake Taupo. 

 Convolvolus soldanella^ L. — Shores of Lake Taupo, abundant. 

 Chenopodium glaucum, L. var. amhiguum. — Eotorua, Tarawera Lake, Eoto- 



mahana. Lake Taupo. 

 Astelia cunninghamii, Hook. f. — Tarawera Lake. 

 Juncus maritimus, Lam. — Abundant amongst boiling springs, etc., on both 



sides of the Waikato, at Orakeikorako, and at Eotorua. 

 Leptocarpus simplex, A. Eich. — Eotorua. 



Scirpus maritimus, L.—Eotoiti, Eotorua, Tarawera, Eotomahana, Orakei- 

 korako, Lake Taupo. 

 Car ex pumila, Thunb. — Eotorua. 



