402 Transactions. — Botany. 



Ascending the hill direct from the town, but diverging widely from the 

 beaten track, the first plant collected of special interest was Juncvs lampro- 

 carpus, a recent addition to our flora. Stunted specimens of Carpha alpina 

 were observed at less than twenty yards above the sea-level. Graliola nana 

 occurred in several spots, and on swampy ground Drosera spathulata was 

 abundant. On a patch of peaty soil at no great elevation the rarest of the 

 New Zealand sun-dews, Drosera pygmtsa, occurred sparingly. It is a minute 

 plant, not more than half an inch across, and from its grey tinge may easily 

 be passed over. It was originally discovered by Mr. Colenso at Cape Maria 

 van Diemen nearly forty years ago, and hitherto has not been observed 

 elsewhere in the colony, although in Tasmania and Australia it has a wide 

 distribution in littoral situations. There can be no doubt that its minute 

 size and insignificant appearance have caused it to be overlooked in New 

 Zealand. 



The alpine Carex cataractce was observed at a low elevation associated 

 with the white-flowered Mimulus radicans and small plants of Schcenas 

 axillaris, not previously recorded from the South Island. Hijdrocotijle 

 muscosa and Eleocharis gracillima were found in swampy situations. Thely- 

 mitra unifiora waved its graceful purple flowers on peaty ground below the 

 summit, sheltering its near ally Caladenia bifolia. Callixene parvijiora with 

 its attractive waxy flowers and fruit covered the surface, in some places 

 intermixed with HerpoUrion novae-zelandicB. A new sj)ecies of Haloragis, 

 recently described as H. uniflora, often formed a dense sward ; the plant is 

 readily distinguished from its allies by the solitary terminal flower. Marshy 

 spots were occupied by Oreoholus pumiHo with the characteristic mountain 

 plant Cyathodes empetrifolia attaining great luxuriance on the drier ground. 



Isolepis cartilaginea, a species of remarkably local distribution, occurred in 

 one or two places, and a small species, doubtfully referred to I. fluitans for 

 the present, was found in plashy spots near the summit. 



The limited time at my command only allowed me to examine the 

 restricted portions of the Blufl' Hill already mentioned, but the results of 

 my investigation warrant the inference that one-fourth of the entire 

 phsenogamic and fern flora of the colony may be collected here by a 

 dihgent investigator — an unusually high proportion to be found on such 

 a small area and under many unfavourable conditions. 



The adjacent Seaward forest is not nearly so rich in species as the Bluff 

 Hill although its general growth is more luxuriant. This wealth of species 

 in the latter locality must be attributed to the continuous supply of moisture 

 present in an atmosphere frequently agitated by high winds and to the 

 greater variety of soil and situation. 



