121 



that no large or continuous vegetation can occur ; at the same time, from its 

 diversified appearance, it is peculiarly interesting to the botanist. There we 

 meet with a few shrubs, such as Cassinia, Carinichselia, Discaria, Pimelia 

 Arenaria, with its peculiar baccate fruit ; and a considerable variety of 

 herbaceous plants, principally consisting of coarse grasses, Carex, Clematis, 

 Ranunculus, Scleranthus, superior to the Kew grass for lawns, verges, etc., 

 Tetragona, Pratia, six species of Orchidese ; and among Ferns, Pteris aquilina, 

 Botrychium virginicum, the rare British fern Ophioglossum vidgatum, and 

 Drosera. 



As new plants are discovered every year, we are forced to the conclusion, 

 that the flora of this neighbourhood is imperfectly known. 



My best thanks are due to Mrs. Deans for having always given me 

 permission to collect plants and specimens at Biccarton, whenever I required 

 them. 



The appended lists contain about 290 species of plants, including 230 

 flowering plants. As the total number in New Zealand is under 900 sp., 

 we may conclude that the collection is tolerably complete. The number of 

 ferns is 38 sp. ; I believe there is no probability of future additions being 

 made to this number. Of mosses, lichens, etc., only 26 sp. have been collected, 

 but in this class there still remains an ample field for future discovery. 

 Although I consider that the greater part of the flowering plants in the 

 district have now been collected, much remains to be done in tracing the 

 distribution of species ; for, although the area is small, it contains several 

 assemblages of species. 



I find that there are five plants in the district which have not been found 

 elsewhere : they are, Clematis, n. sp. ; Carmichcelia, n. sp. ; A nquilaria Novcz 

 Zelandice, n. sp. ; Senecio saxifragoides, and Fuchsia Colensoi. 



Riccarton Bush contains — forest trees 13 species, shrubs 27, climbers 10, 

 herbaceous 34, ferns 14, mosses and lichens 20. Total 118. 



Dry Bush. — Forest trees 15, shrubs 32, parasites 3, climbers 11, herbs 24, 

 ferns 13, mosses 17. Total 115. 



Mount Pleasant. — Forest trees 8, shrubs 20, climbers 11, herbaceous 18, 

 parasites 2, -ferns 27, mosses, etc., 14. Total 100. 



Port Hills. — Shrubs 18, herbaceous 88, ferns 15, mosses 10. Total 131. 



Sand Hills.— Shrubs 11, herbaceous 59, ferns 4, mosses 2. Total 76. 



Swamps. — Shrubs 14, herbaceous 86, ferns, etc., 9, mosses, etc., 7. 

 Total 116. 



[The following Lists have been compiled from those attached to Mr. 

 Armstrong's paper, as giving the same information in a more connected form : 

 the author gave a separate List for each district. — Ed.] 













,d 



u 













^ 



















B 







3 c3 







Forest Trees. 



Native or 



Season of 



PQ 



3 



1 

 3 



■SO 



s 



g 





Settlers' Name. 



Flowering. 





P 



Pm 

 13 



o 



■p o 

 o a 



PM 





■3 



a 



Z/l 



Pittosporuru eugenioides . 



Tarata 



Oct. 



1 



1 











Plagianthus betulinus 



Ribbon wood 



Nov. 



1 













Aristotelia racemosa 





Nov. 





1 











Elseocarpus dentatus 



Hinau 



Nov. -Dec. 



1 





1 









,, Hookerianus . 



Small Hinau 



Dec. 



1 













