143 



hills, the epiphytic form of Griselinia lucida, which was unusually abundant, 

 had a remarkable effect, from the contrast of its bold glossy foliage with that 

 of the rimu, tawa, or rata, upon which it chanced to be growing. It is but 

 rarely that the genera liynienophyllum and Trichomanes are seen, as they 

 ajDpear to be in these patches of forest ; only a few of the commoner forms 

 were observed, and those only in small quantity. 



On the sand hills about Peringa and Whakawa, Zoysia pungens, a small 

 growing native grass is abundant, foi'ming a compact turf, and affording a large 

 suj)ply of succulent herbage to horses and cattle. Although this grass occurs 

 in many localities, from the North Cape southwards, it is rarely found in so 

 great abundance. Astelia Banksii occurs on the cliffs, evincing its decided 

 preference for a maritime habitat. Grantzia, Salicornia, Mesemhryanthemum, 

 and other littoral plants occur here in pi'ofusion. 



Ascending the river from Port Waikato, Avicennia officinalis and Plagian- 

 thus divaricafus are found for a short distance, but the extensive swamps and 

 low lands which stretch to the vicinity of Tuakau, present but little of interest, 

 except occasionally to the flax manufacturer ; occasionally extensive patches of 

 kahikatea are seen, and, on a large island opposite Mercer, are some fine speci- 

 mens of the tarairi (Nesodaphne Tarairi, Hook, f), the finest I saw in the 

 Waikato. This handsome tree appears to attain its southern limit between 

 Mercer and Rangiriri, thus exhibiting a very restricted range when compared 

 with the tawa (Nesodcqohne Tawa, Hook, f ), the only other member of the 

 genus, and which, according to Buchanan, is found in the Province of 

 Marlborough. 



At Kohe-kohe, above Mere-mere, a solitary ngaio {JSIyoporxmn loitum), 

 evidently planted, is pointed out by the Maoris as a " pakeha " tree ; two 

 stunted specimens were observed on abandoned native cultivations at Pangiriri. 

 In the Waikato it appears to be confined to the coast, and flourishes only in 

 situations exposed to the sea breeze. The puriri (Vitex littoi-alis) is not 

 observed by the river side further south than about three miles above Mere- 

 mere, although it is met with in several localities between the river and the 

 ■ coast ; it is however decidedly rare in the Upper Waikato. 



In places where the current is not too swift, a dense growth of Typha 

 latifolia, Sciipus lacustris, and ^S'. tnaritimus, is found at the foot of the bank 

 and in the adjacent marshes ; in shallow places in the river, Myriop)hyllum 

 varicefolium, an undescribed Potamogeton allied to P. zostercefolius, Schum., 

 and a species with floating as well as submerged leaves, allied to P. natans 

 and P. lieterophyllus, are abundant. Nitella Hookeri often forms large patches, 

 and in shallow gravelly places, Zannichellia jxdustris is occasionally met with ; 

 this appears to be a rare plant in the colony, having been previously collected 

 on the east coast of the jSTorth Island only. The paucity of fluviatile plants 

 in the Waikato is remarkable, although some allowance must be made 



