KiEK. — Botany of Great Barrier Inland. £9 



A very few species o£ plants form nearly tlie wliole of tte A-egetation of 

 tlie extensive swamps on tlie eastern coast : Cladium glomeratmn, C. tereti- 

 folium, C.junceum, C. artlculatum, Typlia " angustifolia,^'' Gleichenia circinata, 

 JDi'Osera hinata, Lomaria procera, Schosmcs, n.s., Eleocharis sphacelata, 

 IS. gracilis, Sparganium simplex, Triglochin triandrum, with three or four 

 orchids or other small plants, and occasional tufts of Phormium tenax, 

 comprise the whole. 



In the immediate vicinity of the Hot Springs, in the centre of the island, 

 Gleiclieniaflalellata, Pteris incisa, lind Paspalum scrohiculatum attain a high 

 degree of luxuriance — the ferns being frequently from 5 to 7 feet in height 

 when growing close to the stream, but at a few yards' distance may be seen 

 in their ordinary condition. 



Of about four hundred species of indigenous plants collected on the 

 island, fully two-thirds are of general distribution, the remainder being 

 conj&ned to the higher parts of the ranges, paludal, arenarian, or of extremely 

 local distribution, from causes unknown. 



But little has been done in the way of utilizing the vegetable productions 

 of the island. The Kauri is almost entirely confined to the district in which 

 the palaeozoic rocks occur, only isolated trees or small clumps being found 

 south of the Hot Springs. On the eastern side it could only be got out of 

 the forest with great difficulty ; but at "Wairahi and Kaiarara it can be 

 procured with comparative ease, and has been largely cut to supply the saw- 

 mills of the Grreat Barrier Company. The Pohutukawa, (Metrosideros 

 tooiisntosa) , so valuable for ship timbers, has scarcely been used except for 

 firewood, although it is most abundant and attains unusual dimensions. 

 Vitex littoralis and Leptospermum ericoides have been largely cut for fencing 

 and firewood, and are now becoming comparatively scarce in some districts. 

 The bark of the Towai (JVeinmmmia silvicola) does not appear to have been 

 collected for tanning purposes, although it is abundant in many places, with 

 other trees whose bark might also be applied for tanning or dye uses. 



The following plants appear to find their south limit on the island : — 



Metrosideros diffusa. 

 Pisonia lombellifera. 

 Gleichenia flabellata. 



The following appear to reach their northern boundaiy here : — ■ 



Panax \sinclairii\ discolor. 

 Gelmisia longifolia. 

 Vittadinia australis. 

 Olearia [sp.] apetala. 

 Utricularia [sp.] novas-zealandice. 

 Pliyllocladus glauca. 

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