145 



are but rarely developed on old branches and never in connection with 

 fruit. 



At Tepakinina, Geranviim sessilifloriim is found in abundance on the 

 pumice deposit by the river ; this is probably the northern boundary of this 

 interesting little plant, which had not previously been observed in the North 

 Island. Potentilla anserina, and other plants of interest, were collected here. 

 The open country in the vicinity is clothed with short-growing manuka and 

 fern, largely mixed with an undescribed Schcenus allied to S. paucijlorus, and 

 presents few plants of interest. 



Whangape Lake is the habitat of many interesting plants. Asperula 

 perpusilla attains here its northern limit, the iisually littoral Chenopodium 

 ambigtmm occurs on its banks, Potamogeton 2^ectinatus, only collected elsewhere 

 as a New Zealand plant, near Napier, is abundant in the lake and in the 

 Whangape Creek, as are the undescribed members of the genus already spoken 

 of. Elatine Americana is not unfrequent, Ruppia inaritima, usually confined 

 to muddy beaches and salt-water ditches, is common, as is Zannichellia palustris ; 

 Scirpus Jluitans, L., has not been found elsewhere in New Zealand ; a Pilularia, 

 with solitary fronds, is found on the margin of the lake, as well as in deep 

 water, but good specimens have not yet been collected, and the genus has not 

 at present been found elsewhere in the colony. Isoetes Kirkii, Braunn, 

 originally discovered here, forms a compact turf at the bottom of the lake, 

 whilst charads of several species are abundant, — amongst them C'hara /ragilis, 

 Desv., var. C. australis, R. Br., and C. gymmopitys, A. Br., are additions to 

 our flora, as is an interesting minute plant, an imdescribed Ranunculus of 

 abnormal form, having four sepals and four petals, with spathulate leaves, and 

 which formed matted patches in water of one to six feet in depth. 



In the adjacent forest, the elegant Metrosideros Colensoi, with its weeping 

 branches, clothed many of the tallest trees ; when in flower, in December and 

 January, it must present a charming sight, the rose-coloured flowers being 

 boi'ne on the extremities of its slender pendulous shoots. It would be a striking 

 addition to the lawn or shrubbeiy if grafted on the rata or pohiitukawa, and 

 treated as a weeping tree. A Fuchsia, of sub-scandent rambling habit, was 

 found here, but without flower or fruit ; it is, perhaps, a form of F. Colensoi. 

 Myosotis Forsteri occurred sparingly. Asplenium australe was collected of 

 unusual luxuriance, some of the fronds being six feet high. Occasional 

 specimens of the kauri were observed, but it is decidedly rare. 



Waikare Lake is of irregular shape, and about eight miles long by three 

 in width. It presents a marked contrast to Whangape Lake, in the 

 comparative absence of lacustrine vegetation. The only representative of the 

 charads was Nitella Ilooheri, which occurred in large masses ; the undescribed 

 Ranunctdus, already referred to, was abimdant, but nowhere to be seen in 

 flower. The maritime plants, Schpus maritimus, Ruppia maritima., Leptocarpus 



u 



