IviKK. — Oil the Naturalized Plants of Port Nicholson. 365 



In a future paper I purpose discussing in detail the position of natu- 

 ralized plants with regard to the indigenous flora and their general effect 

 on the progress of the colony, but for the present confine myself to a few 

 remarks on certain species which exhibit features of special interest in this 

 district. 



I may, however, point out that the gradual decrease in the number of 

 species as we travel southwards, which to a certain extent characterizes the 

 indigenous flora, is exhibited also by our naturalized flora. Comparing the 

 naturalized plants of this district with those of Auckland, we find the pro- 

 portion to be less than 1-25 to 2, Auckland having fully 400 naturalized 

 species, Wellington under 250. Making a fan- estimate for the number of 

 species yet to be collected in the unvisited portions of this district, it can 

 scarcely be expected that the total will exceed 300 ; and it may be added 

 that the decrease is more strongly marked as we go further south. 



It does not appear that this increasing paucity of species is solely due 

 to a lower temperature. The peach ripens its fruit as thoroughly about 

 Wellington as in any part of Auckland ; yet while a constant succession of 

 young trees is produced in the northern district, they are so few about 

 Wellington that, except in peculiarly favourable situations, the plant does 

 not increase when left to itself. The potato exhibits the same difference in 

 a still higher degree : it would stand a much better chance of becoming 

 permanently naturalized in Auckland than in Wellington ; while the fig, 

 which never flourishes here except under cultivation, in Auckland, even 

 when utterly neglected, holds its ground and increases by suckers, although 

 rarely by seeds, which in all probabihty are seldom formed owing to the 

 absence of insects capable of effecting its fertilization. Similar remarks 

 apply to the vine, the Cape gooseberry, and other garden plants, whether 

 producing edible fruits or otherwise ; but, on the other hand, the Kentish 

 cherry and garden gooseberry increase with great rapidity when left undis- 

 turbed — the cherry both by suckers and seeds, the gooseberry by seeds and 

 the rooting of the lower branches — so that a single wild plant sometimes 

 forms a bush several feet in diameter. 



Ranunculus repens, L. 



Abundant in wet places, ditches, etc. ; more plentiful than in any other 

 part of the colony. 



Fi. parviflorus, L. 



This species is becoming injurious in fields and cultivations, from its 

 great abundance and densely tufted habit, which is quite unknown in Europe. 

 It must not be confounded with the var. australis, which is indigenous. 



Glaucium luieum, L. 



AVidely difi'used on shingly beaches, and from its remarkable habit 



