248 Essays. 



coast, has its nortli limit about Poverty Bay, where too it is very plentiful. 

 Taraxacum dens-leonis growing sparingly with the former, but often rising 

 to a much higher elevation of 3,000 feet, has not been detected north of 

 Tolaga Bay. Ourisia macropliylla, found plentifully at from 1,500 to 3,000 

 feet, has not been seen north of Poverty Bay. Calceolaria sinclairii and 

 Muphrasia cuneata, coast plants (rising, however, to 500 feet), have their 

 north limits at the East Cape. Myosotls and Exarrliena, several species met 

 with in both dry and damp spots, from the sea coast to an altitude of 2,000 

 feet, are unknown north of the East Cape. Fagus fusca, found in the 

 interior at an altitude of from 500 to 2,500 feet, has not been seen north of 

 Poverty Bay* while F. solanclrl, a species found much nearer the sea, and 

 attaining to a higher elevation of 4,000 feet, reaches nearly to the East 

 , Cape. Zannichellia palustris, has not been noticed north of Table Cape ; 

 while its aquatic congener, Lemna gihha, reaches Poverty Bay. Of Ferns 

 peculiar to the southern parts of the island may be noticed, — Symeno- 

 phyllum iivalve, H. pulclierrimum, and S. ceruginosiim, which extend through- 

 out damp forests in the interior, at an elevation of 2,000 feet, to about 

 38° south, their north limit. Davallia novcE-zealandice has been found as far 

 north as the Bay of Plenty. Lomaria elongata and L. nigra, at an elevation 

 of 1,000 to 1,600 feet, extend plentifully north, from Wairarapa, near 

 "Wellington, to 38° south. Small specimens, however, of Lomaria elongata 

 have lately been found near Wellington. Polypodiuon sylvaticum (a scarce 

 fern), at a lower elevation, from "Wellington to Tolaga Bay, 38° 30' south; 

 and Leptopteris superla, at an altitude of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet, extends 

 north to about 38° south. 



14. It has already been shown how widely spread and common many 

 of the plants of this North Island are ; nevertheless, there are some, both 

 genera and species, which, as far as is knov/n, are peculiarly local. This, it 

 is believed, is a characteristic feature in the botany of New Zealand, and 

 one which, if hereafter proved to be real, will be Avorthy of deep considera- 

 tion, — as to the why such should be. A few of the more strikingly local 

 plants, hitherto only found in one small spot, are here enumerated, with 

 their known habitats : — Glematis depaihperata (n.), near Hawke Bay. Myo- 

 surus aristatus, Palliser Bay. Manimculus geraniifolius (n.), between Mount 

 Tougariro and Euahine mountain range. Brosera ptygmasa, Cape Maria van 

 Diemen; Drosera arcturi, at Taupo, near the base of Tongariro. StacJc- 



* " Fagus fusca has not been seen north of Poverty ]3ay." In 1839, however, I yisited a 

 small isolated wood of Fagus at the head of Whangarei Bay, but failed in getting any 

 fruiting specimens. That plant, from its vernation, is believed by the writer to be a 

 different species, or, at all events, a marked variety {Vide London Journal of Botany, 

 Tol. III. p. 20.) The same tree grows also near Kaitaia Mission Station, north of 

 35° south. By the northern natives it is called Tiutii. 



