151 



Drosera hinata, Lycopodiuin laterale, and Gleichenia hecistoi^hylla are abundant ; 

 the lowei' parts of tlie g'ullies are -usually swamps filled with, raupo, and edged 

 with, a varied growth of sedges and other uliginal plants, amongst which 

 Isachne austrcdis often occurs in abundance ; the slopes are often clothed with 

 low scrub, chiefly composed of the commoner heathworts, Coiyrosma lucida, 

 Cordyline Banhsii, etc. 



Conspicuous in^the patches of bush still remaining are Tetrmithera calicaris, 

 Vitex littoralis^ Metrosideros robusta, Nesodaphne Taioa, N. Tairdri, Le2)tosper^ 

 mum ericoides, Myrsine salicina, M. australis, Persoonia Toro, Knightia excelsa, 

 Elaiocarjms dentatus, Hedycaria dentata, Dammara austixdis, with many other 

 fine species, accompanied by the chief characteristic undergrowth of the 

 northern forest, Alseuosmia macrophylla, Coprosma grandifolia, etc., and many 

 small ferns. Astelia Solandri, Pittosporum cornifolium, JDendrohium Cun- 

 ninghqmii, Earina mucronata, and E. aiotumnalis are commonly epiphytic on 

 the larger trees, Tmesip)teTis Forsteri is epiphytic on the stems of Cyathea 

 meduUaris, C. dealbata, and Dichsonia squarrosa. 



On the coast the pohutukawa is still common, although all specimens 

 sufiiciently large for the purposes of the ship-builder have long since been 

 removed, except at the Pupuke Lake, where some noble examples are yet to 

 be seen. Astelia Banhsii is abundant in sheltered places on the clifis, a.nd, in 

 some localities, the renga-renga [Arthropodium cirrhatwm), makes a fine display. 

 Crantzia lineata, Pasp)alum distichum, Triglochin triandruon, Glienopodium 

 conhiguum, and Salicornia indica are common in salt marshes and mud flats, 

 whilst most of the ordinary littoral plants may be found in the varied habitats 

 afibrded by a coast line • of fully sixty miles, making due allowance for the 

 indentations and windings of the shore. 



The chief localities for plants of special interest are Waiatarua or St. John's 

 Lake, the lava field near Moimt Wellington, etc., the head of the Manukaxi, 

 the Onehunga Springs, the Bishop's Creek, Coxe's Creek, etc., on the Isthmus ; 

 in the Takapuna section, the North Head, Pupuke Lake, and the deep gullies 

 near Stokes' Point. 



A few species appear to reach their ultimate range of distribution in this 

 small area : — Pomaderris elliptica attains its southern limit at the Whau and 

 Lucas' Creeks; Accena Novoe, Zelandiai, Gory smithes GJoeesemanii, Astelia 

 Hooheriana, have not yet been observed south of the Tamaki ; nor has Phyl- 

 loglossum Drummondii. 



Viola Lyallii, Potentilla anserina, Myosotis Forsteri, and Garex inversa 

 apparently find here their northei-n limits, and are I'emarkably local. 



The efiects of the changed conditions of plant life incidental to agi-icultural 

 progress, are chiefly exhibited in tv/o directions, — (1.) the restriction of species 

 once plentiful in the district, to narrow habitats, in some cases to a few indi- 

 viduals only, and conversely in the increase of a limited number of species ; — 



