167 



the plants of fully one-tliivtl of this large district, say from Hokianga on the 

 west coast southward to Mangawhare, we have scarcely any knowledge. From 

 a little above the head of Doubtless Bay, a sandy peninsula connects the 

 North Cape with the southern portion of the district, the length of the portion 

 north of Doubtless Bay being about fifty-five miles, and varying in width from 

 six miles at Ohora to about twenty-five between Cape Maria van Diemen and 

 Cape Reinga. The entire district corresponds to the Northern area, and the 

 Bay of Islands area as defined by Mr. Colenso. Its highest point is attained 

 in the Maungataniwha range, and does not exceed 2800 feet, although I believe 

 has been stated at various heights, from 2300 feet to 3000 feet. The country 

 is varied with open fern or tea-tree land and heavy forest ; much of the latter 

 on the south-western side consisting of kahikatea. There are extensive swamps, 

 some of which are choked with raupo and coarse sedges, whilst others support 

 a large variety of moisture-loving plants. Grass lands are almost entirely 

 wanting, although nearly half the native grasses have been collected in the 

 district. The vegetation of the district, so far as the conditions of plant 

 growth are concerned, may, with but few exceptions, be advantageously 

 grouped as, (1.) Littoral, (2.) Ericetal, (3.) Paludal, (4.) Sylvestral. I do not 

 propose to consider these groups in detail. 



The chief distinctive features of the forest vegetation have been already 

 pointed out by Mr. Buchanan. I need only remark that Metrosideros 

 tomentosa, Sccpota costata, Pittosporuin umbellatum, P. crassifoliutn, and 

 Avicennia tomentosa, belong entirely to the Littoral group, and form no portion 

 of the forest flora, except in those places where the forest touches the sea- 

 beach. The plants which chiefly give character to the northern forests are 

 JDaiwrnara australis, Nesodaphne Taraire, Vitex littorcdis, and Phyllocladus 

 trichomdnoides ; Vitex littorcdis forms the whole of the forest in several places 

 on the western coast, and has a verydiflerent habit of growth to the generality 

 of specimens of this tree on the eastern coast. Over the entire district, 

 Alseuosmia macropliylla is to be met with, and in many places forms the whole 

 of the undergrowth. All the species of this peculiar genus are found in the 

 district, and at first sight appear to pass into each other by almost imperceptible 

 shades of difference. 



The following plants appear to be confined to this district : — Pittosporum 

 ellipticum. Kirk, n. s., P. rejlexwm, (includes Gilliesianum, Trans. Yol. i., 

 p. 143), P. pimeleoides. Hibiscus diversifoUus, Ackama roscefolia, Drosera 

 pi/gnitea, Haloragis tetragyna, Meryta Sindairii, Ozothamnus lanceolatus, 

 Buchanan, n. s. [Trans. Vol. ii., p. 88), Golensoa physaloides, fyomcea tuher- 

 eidata, Gratiola nana, Veronica diosmaifolia, V. sjyeciosa, Cassyiha p>aniculata, 

 Thelymitra Colensoi. 



Of the above, eleven species are strictly endemic, and of those found in 

 other countries the Tpomcea is the only species having a wide range. The 



