BvciixsA.^.— Sketch of tJie Botawj of Otago. 197 



Heath Family.— This beautiful family has several fine representatives 

 in Otago. The GauWienas cover large areas of ground on the mountains 

 the fruit being eaten by the kaka parrots. The Ci/athodes genus are very 

 ornamental ; and the Dracophjllims, with their singular, grass-like foliage, 

 and racemes of waxy, white flowers, would prove fine additions to garden 

 shrubbery. Trunks sometimes attain a diameter of 12-18 inches. Wood 

 soft, white, finely marked, making pretty veneers. 



Yeeonica Familt.— Koromiko. One of the largest in Otago, and 

 forming a prominent feature in the New Zealand flora. Many of them are 

 remarkable for great beauty and novelty in their imbricated foliage. Some 

 of the finest are sub-alpine, and the family is well represented in Otago. 

 (See list of plants.) 



Composite Pamilt.— This, the largest family of plants in the world, 

 retains its proportion in Otago. The principal are,— 



Tupari {Olearia operina). Trunk 6-8 inches diameter, very ornamental, 

 found only on the "West Coast, but grows well at Dunedin, transplanted. 



Olearia nitida. A very ornamental shrub-tree, with showy, fragrant, 

 white flowers. Trunk 12-18 inches diameter; wood white, with yellow 

 markings. 



Olearia dentafa. A very ornamental small tree, when in flower covered 

 with white, fragrant blossoms. Trunk 2-3 feet diameter ; wood white, with 

 yellow markings. 



Olearia ilicifolia. Very similar to the last. 



Akeake {Olearia avicennicefolid) . A very ornamental shrub-tree, 

 covered with white, fragrant blossoms, in the season. Trunk 6-12 inches 

 diameter. Wood finely marked with yellow and brown streaks ; makes 

 pretty veneers. 



Olearia moschata. An ornamental shrub, as also — 



Olearia nuvimularifolia. 



Olearia liectori. A very ornamental shrub-tree, covered in season with 

 white blossoms, of a strong, peach fragrance ; common between the Clutha 

 and Mataura Eivers, and in the Wanaka Lake district. 



Olearia virgata, with several varieties, which probably pass into the last ; 

 extreme form, with needle-shaped leaves, found at Dunedin. These varieties 

 form in many places a large part of the scrub. 



Cotton plant (Celmisia). Several of this numerous genus would make 

 pretty additions to the garden. Celmisia coriacea, from its abundance on the 

 Lammerlaw Eanges, might be used in the manufacture of paper, having a 

 large amount of fibrous material on the back of the leaves. 



Cassinia. The species of this genus are widely distributed, forming the 

 greater part of the hill scrub everywhere common round Dunedin. 



