842 Transactions. — Botany. 



Art. XL VII. — On the Alpine Flora of New Zealand. 



By John Buchanan, F.L.S., of tlie Geological Survey Department. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 20th August and 21st Sejgtemher, 1881, 

 and 2lst February, 1882.] 



Plates XXIV.-XXXY. 



The present contribution to the Alpine Flora of New Zealand has been pre- 

 pared from collections of plants made during Dr. Hector's geological visit 

 to the Lake Districts of Otago in 1863-4, and more recently in the same 

 districts including the mountains environing Lake Ohou, Canterbury, during 

 Mr. McKay's geological visit there in 1881-2. 



The first collection was submitted by Dr. Hector to Sir Joseph Hooker, 

 for identification, and as many of the plants proved new to science they 

 were added to the "Handbook of the New Zealand Flora," then in the 

 press. Unfortunately good specimens of this collection were not retained 

 in the colony for comparison and identification of future collections, and 

 all our more recent alpine collections have been worked out since from 

 description alone. 



The purpose of the present paper is not only to place upon record new 

 species, but also to assist in naming them, by illustrations, those who 

 take a popular interest in our beautiful Alpine flora ; the spread of popula- 

 tion towards the lake districts of the South Island having no doubt added 

 greatly to the number of those who take advantage of their alpine neigh- 

 bourhood to make collections. Many of our alpine plants are very beautiful 

 when in flower, and when seen aggregated in close, often rounded masses, 

 firmly adhering to rock surfaces in sheltered places of the mountains, where 

 favourable conditions exist for their full development, they in many instances 

 excel the gardener's art. It is doubtful, however, if they will prove a 

 success under cultivation, as certain conditions of life necessary for their 

 healthy development only exist at great altitudes. The nearest approach 

 to these healthy conditions of growth would be found under glass with a 

 warm temperature when growing and flowering, after which a long period 

 of rest during winter under a low temperature would be necessary to prevent 

 exhaustion. 



The altitudinal range of the New Zealand alpine flowering plants ex- 

 tends from 3,500 to 8,000 feet, but there is reason to assume that, but foi 

 the presence of snow, they would attain a greater altitude. Latitude is no 

 doubt an indefinite influence in plant distribution, being so much controlled 

 by local influences that identical floras may be found on distant momitain 

 ranges with botanical altitudes inverse to their latitudes. This may be 



