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II. — BOTANY. 



Art. XXIY. — Notes on the Botany of Certain Places in the Waikato District, 

 Ajn-il and May, 1870. By T. Kirk. 



[Read before the AucJdand Institute, June 13, 1870.] 



The extensive sand liills a.t tlie Nortli Head of the Waikato River, are dotted 

 over witli a sparse vegetation of Carex puniila, Spinifex, Desrnochcenus, and 

 otlaer common arenarean ]:»lants, with patches of Cassinia retorta, and tussocks 

 ot Aricndo cons2ncua ; in moist places Eiq^horhia glauca maybe found, and 

 about the margins of the shallow sand lakes and pools, Limosella aquatica, 

 AzoUa rubra, and the common European water-cress. At the South Head the 

 sand hills occupy but a comparatively small space, and being for the most part 

 but low, have become covered with a dense growth of manuka and other 

 shrubs, mixed with various sedges and rushes ; in the moister places, Lepto- 

 carpus filiformis attains the height of seven feet. On the sand hills near the 

 Port, the European Iris Germanica is abundantly naturalized, while Malva 

 crisjja and many other introduced plants are plentiful amongst the deserted 

 houses and by the road sides. A form of Potentilla anserina, scarcely different 

 from the European plant, is most abundant at the foot of the hills ; and in 

 plashy places, CaMitriche Muellerii, F. Sond, Grantzia lineata, and Alyriophyllum 

 variaefoliuin are common. The sea cliiTs are garnished with Arthropodium 

 cirrhatum, and in sheltered places, Olearia alhida, Myoporimi loitum, and a few 

 other common shrubs are found, but the number of species is remarkably 

 limited. 



On the hills about Port Waikato, Sporoholus elongatus forms the chief 

 herbavge, in many places to the exclusion of all other gi-asses. Notwithstanding 

 its extreme toughness, it is as closely cropped by cattle as if regularly mown, 

 and from its hardiness and quick growth, forms a remarkably dense and elastic 

 sward. The settlers call it " Chilian grass," and think highly of its value ; it 

 is however a true native of the colony, and is found from the North Cape to 

 the Upper Waikato, where it is increasing from the depasturing of cattle and 

 the steady spread of agricultural operations. 



From Port Waikato southwai'd to Waikawa the country is much broken, 

 the crests of the low hills being chiefly covered with fern and the usual ericetal 

 plants, and the valleys filled with luxuriant forest, differing from that in the 

 north in the entire absence of kauri and tarairi ; viewed from the crests of the 



