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wortliless to the manufactiirei', but the undressed leaf is split into nai-row 

 strips by the natives for fishing nets, which are said to last longer than those 

 made from the ordinary swamp flax.''*' The wharaekie is occasionally to be 

 seen planted in Maori cultivations, both in the Waikato and Thames districts ; 

 it is much more abimdant in the Upper than in the Lower Waikato, its 

 favourite habitat being the faces of moist banks and cliffs. 



At the Tamahere narrows^ DracopliyUtim strictum attains its northern, 

 limit, and from its numerous panicles of white flowers, forms an attractive 

 object. At Cambridge, Microseris Forsteri was collected in abundance ; 

 Zoysia pii/ngens, a low-growing grass usually confined to littoral situations, 

 formed a dense sward in many places, and afibrded a large amount of short 

 succulent herbage, which was closely cropped by sheep and cattle ; a few 

 fragments of other grasses, apparently referable to the maiitime Glyceria striata 

 and Poa, sp., were collected here, but in too advanced a stage to admit of 

 identification. 



Art. XXV. — On the Occui'renee of Littoral Plants in the Waikato District. 



By T. Kirk. 



[Bead before the Auchland Institute, June 13, 1870.] 

 The frequent occurrence of several species of maritime plants in the Waikato 

 District, far beyond the present range of tidal waters, appears to call for special 

 remark from its important geological bearings. Dr. Hochstetter was, I believe, 

 the first to advance the theory, " that the whole Middle Waikato basin was 

 but recently a shallow arm of the sea or a far extending estuary." The 

 accuracy of this opinion has however been impugned ; it may therefore be 

 advisable to recapitulate the maritime plants observed in and about the river 

 and adjacent lakes and marshes. 



Tetragonia expansa, — chiefly as a weed in native cultivations. 



Apium Jiliforme, — woods by the Opuatia. 



Selliera radicans, Cav.. — Waikare Lake. Has been found by the "Lower 

 Waitaki River, Otago, apparently far from the sea." 



Chenopodium glaucum, L., var. ambigtcum, — on the shores of Whangape Lake. 



Ruppia maritima, L., — in Whangape, Waikare, and Waihi Lakes. 



Lejitocarpus shnplex, A. Rich, — Waikare Lake. This occurs in a solitary 

 locality in the North, a short distance only from the present reach of tidal 

 water, and in small quantity. 



Scirpus maritimits, L., — from Waikato Heads to a few miles above Hamil- 

 ton ; abundant in all the lakes and marshes ; also in the Waipa. 



Zoysia jyungens, Willd., — Cambridge, abundant. 



* The above is written from personal observation of this plant in the North only. 

 It is said to produce a fibre of high Quality in the South Island. 



