BuCHANAlS!'. — SJcefch of the Botany of Otar/o. 185 



deciduous vegetation ; but wheu inauy of tlie Otago trees are iu flower, sueh 

 as tlie Metrosideros lucida with its brilliant scariet covering, and tlie 

 Weinmannia, Leptospermums, Sophora, Aralias, Pittos]yonims, and a host of 

 others, mix their masses of white and yellow blossoms, few -persons could 

 adopt the idea of some writers on ISTeAV Zealand, that its vegetation is sombre 

 and uninteresting. This view of the subject only applies to the places first 

 visited in the North Island, which nowhere can compare, in brilliant fresh- 

 ness or varied colouring, with Otago. 



The following genera, many of Avhich are represented by more than one 

 species, compose the Otago bush : — 



Fodocarpus, Dacrydmm, Phylloclades, Lihocedrus, Fagus, Griselinia, Metro- 

 sideros, Leptospermum, Panax, Sclieffiera, Pittosporwn, Myrsine, Melicytus, 

 Plagiantlms, PLolieria, Pennantia, Sopihora, Garpodetus, Weinmannia, Fuchsia, 

 Drimys, Aristotelia, Flceocarpus, Coriaria, Myrtus, Goprosma, Olearia, Senecio, 

 Dracophyllum, Veronica, 3Iyoporum, Epicarpiirus, Ascarina, Hedycarya, 

 Gordyline, and, as foi-ming a marked feature everywhere in the bush, the 

 tree-ferns, Gyatliea dealbata, G. medtdlaris, G. smithii, Diclcsonia squarrosa, 

 and D. antarctica. 



Shrub species of the genus Goprosma are most commonly found as an 

 undergrowth in the forests, — most of the ISTew Zealand shrubs preferring 

 the open, — but a dense undei-growth of ferns is often seen of the genera 

 Lomaria, Aspidium, Leptopteris, and Polypodium, many of which acquire 

 trunks two or three feet high. The forest is often rendered impassable by 

 climbing plants, the Glematis indivisa [or supple-jack] climbing the highest 

 trees, and spreading its masses of showy white flowers to the light, the 

 Rubus australis, the common bramble or " bush-laAvyer," forming impassable 

 thorny masses on the ground, or interweaving the branches of fallen trees ; 

 this plant also climbs the highest trees, clothing them at top with foliage, 

 flowers, and fruit ; the strong fragrance of its flowers is felt at a great dis- 

 tance — and, again, the BMpogonum scandens, [or black vine,] with its 

 numerous smooth black stalks, dark green shining leaves, and bright scarlet 

 berries, festooning the bush, is also a very striking plant. The parasitic 

 mistletoes will also attract attention, some of the genus Loranthus having 

 bright crimson flowers. Those species are generally found on the Pagus 

 (beech trees), while one species, Loranthtis micrantha, is often found on the 

 Leptospermum ericoides (manuka), forming large round masses of ovate 

 leaves, which contrast with the finer foliage of the manuka. The Tupeia 

 antarctica may be found on almost every species of tree and shrub round 

 Dunedin, and sometimes parasitic on its fellow parasite, Loranthus micrantha. 

 The genus Viscum has two species in Otago, one of which is very abundant 

 on manuka trees, often occupying a fair share of the branches. 

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