Armstbong. — On the Flora of the Province of Canterbury. 333 



grass, Trisetum antarcticum, and the alpine holy-grass, Hierochloe alpina. 

 Since the introduction of sheep and cattle these native grasses have con- 

 siderably improved in productiveness, except where the senseless burning 

 system has been carried to excess. 



Besides the species of grasses we have several other plants which might 

 be advantageously grown. For instance, the aromatic aniseed, Angelica 

 gingidium, of which sheep are so fond that they have exterminated it in 

 many parts of the province. This plant seeds freely enough where pro- 

 tected and would be easy to cultivate. Ligusticmn haastii, another aromatic 

 plant of the carrot tribe, is greedily eaten by horses and sheep and would 

 be very easy of cultivation. L. aromaticum, L. jnliferiim, and L. hrevistyle 

 are similar in character. Many other sorts of plants are eaten by sheep, 

 but I think the few here mentioned are all that are worthy of cultivation 

 for pastoral purposes. It is to be hoped that the farmers of the province 

 may be induced to cultivate these various forage plants, and to thoroughly 

 test their value. 



Summary of Catalogue. — My catalogue contains the names of 750 species of 

 flowering plants, belonging to 236 genera ; and 107 species of ferns, belonging 

 to 34 genera. The lower Cryptogams are so incomplete that I do not think 

 it worth while to summarize them here. 



The largest orders are Compositce with 110 species, 8crophularine<B 63 

 species. CyperacecE 55 species, Graminece 51 species, and Umhelliferce 43 

 species. The largest genera are Veronica, with 44 species ; Celmisia, 23 

 species ; and Rammculus, 22 species. 



The great proportion of genera to species is a peculiar feature, thus no 

 less than 109 genera have only one species each, and many others have 

 only two. Again while 12 natural orders have 464 species, the remaining 

 286 species belong to no less than 65 orders, many of which have but one 

 species each. Of the flowering plants — 538 are confined to the colony, and 

 212 are found in other countries, 176 are found in Australia or Tasmania, 

 and 108 species are natives of America. There are also 48 species closely 

 allied to Australian plants, and 27 to South American. About 50 species 

 are natives of Europe, and about 35 of Asia. 



Of the 286 genera enumerated in the catalogue, no less than 25 are con- 

 fined to New Zealand. The number of species confined to the Canterbury 

 Province cannot be stated with any exactness until the flora of the adjoining 

 provinces is properly worked up. It does not, however, exceed 20 species, 

 and most probably not more than a dozen. The flora of New Zealand is 

 usually considered by European botanical authors to be closely allied to 

 that of Australia, and no doubt the two countries have a considerable 

 number of plants in common. But the species common to Australia and 



