169 



the genus, as divided by Dr. Hooker, forms two groups, with scarcely an 

 exception ; one distinguished by entire leaves, the other by the leaves being 

 variously serrated. But, as if purposely to show that the artificial characters 

 employed by the systematist are, after all, mere matters of convenience, this 

 distinct species exhibits two forms, one of which would, by the division just 

 stated, be placed in the first group, the other in the second. In the first 

 variety the leaves are close set, spreading, margined, entire ; corymbs axillary, 

 rarely terminal, flowere pale lilac, produced in great abundance, about October 

 and November only. The second form exhibits the leaves close set, usually 

 appressed in a greater or lesser degree, serrated or rather closely incised, as if 

 simply cut with a pair of scissors, serratures and edges of the leaves margined ; 

 corymbs usually terminal, flowers white, produced more or less freely the 

 whole year. The latter form was first observed by Dr. Hector and 

 Mr. Buchanan, at the Bay of Islands, and is decidedly more local than the 

 typical form. I have to express my thanks to Mr. D. Hay, for the 

 opjDortunity of examining recent wild specimens collected by Mrs. Clarke. 



The occurrence of Veronica dios7n<efolia and V. elongata exhibits a curious 

 phenomenon, absolutely without parallel in any other part of the colony — both 

 species are the sole representatives in the district of their respective groups, 

 both are endemic, and restricted to small areas ; but the first, in general 

 appearance and liability to a certain amount of variation, is a marked repre- 

 sentative of the forms of the genus which are peculiar to the southern 

 hemisphere ; the other, equally in general appearance and fixity of character, 

 represents the germanders and speedwells of the northern hemisphere. 



The total number of species of flowering plants and ferns already collected 

 in the district is under 550, and falls very far short of what may fairly be 

 expected to occur. Further additions will be made to the extent of fully 

 one-fourth as the district is worked uj) by competent observers. 



I must own to a feeling of disappointment on reading Mr, Buchanan's 

 remarks on the causes of plant variation in the colony. His extensive 

 knowledge of the vegetation of its south and south-western portions especially, 

 had led me to expect that he would throw some light on this obscure, but 

 interesting, subject. His remarks on the influence of wind on plants have 

 failed to convince me of the possibility of permanent vai-iation being produced 

 by its agency, which is purely mechanical, as it has been again and again 

 proved that seeds from wind-dwarfed and prematurely aged trees, descended 

 from others grown in the same locality for ages past, are capable in ordinary 

 situations of pi'oducing trees of the normal type and luxuriance. 



Dodoncea viscosa, which is cited by Mr. Buchanan as a (possible) instance of 

 a species exhibiting an increasing tendency to variation as it recedes from its 

 centre of maximum growth, does not in any way support that view, whether 

 considei'ed with regard to New Zealand alone, or to the numerous countries in 



