Cheeseman. — On the Botany of the Pirongia Mountain. 319 



wholly composed of magnificent tawas {Nesodai^hne taiva). Nowhere have 

 I seen taller or better-grown specimens, and their cool shade was most 

 acceptable after the hot and dusty tramp over the fern-hills from Alexandra. 

 Mixed up with tawas are scattered rimus (Dacrydium cupressinum), kahi- 

 kateas (Podocarpus dacrydioides), and ratas (Metrosideros robusta). The 

 last-named tree is much more common on the northern side of the moun- 

 tain, and on the spurs above Harapipi forms a large pro]3ortion of the bush. 

 Dysoxylum, Tetranthera, Knightia and Santalum are all comparatively plen- 

 tiful. The undergrowth is principally composed of Coprosma lucida and 

 C. graiidifolia, Drimys axillaris, Alseuosmia macrophylla, fern trees, and 

 several species of Gahnia and Astelia. Here and there thickets of the 

 climbing Freycinetia banksii are met with, while "supple-jacks" (Rhipo- 

 goniini), and mange-mange {Lygodium articidatum) , are abundant enough. 

 Nor are the chmbing species of Metrosideros (M. florida, M. hyi^ericifolia, 

 M. scandens), or the prickly tataramoa [Riibus australis) at all rare. 



Little change takes place in the vegetation until an altitude of 1200 feet 

 is reached, when the tawa becomes much less plentiful, its place being' 

 gradually taken by Weinynannia racemosa, Quintinia serrata, and Ixerba 

 brexioides. Melicytus lanceolatus was noticed in one or two localities. Here, 

 the first specimens of a new Polypodium (P. novcE-zealandice, Baker, ms.) 

 were collected.* It is usually found on rotten logs, rarely growing on the 

 ground, and was not seen climbing trees, like its near allies P. billardieri 

 and P. pustidatum. The rhizome, so conspicuous from its shaggy coating 

 of chestnut-brown scales, is often as thick as the thumb, Avhile fi'onds were 

 measured (including the stipes) nearly five feet in height, with upwards of 

 twenty pairs of piling. It is abundant over the whole of the higher portion 

 of the mountain. 



Above 1500 feet much of the undergrowth is composed of Coi^rosma 

 fmtidissima, well known to bushmen in the south of the Island from its 

 disgustingly foetid smell when bruised, or even handled. This is the first 

 record of its occurrence to the north of the East Cape. Possibly Pirongia 

 is its northern limit on the west coast, but on the east it has a more 

 extensive range, as it occurs in profusion on the plateau above the Wairere 

 Falls in the Thames Valley, and, according to Maori authority, is also 

 found on Te Aroha. Two other species of Cop>rosma are associated with it 

 on Pirongia ; but, in the absence of flowers and fruit, they cannot be safely 

 identified. One is a small, densely branched shrub, 2-5 feet high, with 

 oblong or obovate leaves 1 inch in length, and may perhaps be a large form 

 of C. colensoi. The other is a tall, slender shrub, with much of the habit 

 of C. grandifolia, but with smaller, narrower, more acuminate leaves, very 



* See Trans. N.Z. Inst., X., p. 356. 



