﻿228 Transactions, — Botany. 



Art. XL. — On the Flora of the Isthmus of A ucJdand and the Tahapima 

 District. By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 



■ \_Read before the AucMand Institute, 20th May, 1871.] 



PART II. * 



In preparing the account of the flowei"ing plants and ferns of the Isthmus and 

 North Shore, which was laid before our Institute during its last session, a 

 feeling of satisfaction was experienced at the approximation to completeness 

 which was found attainable in that department of botanical investigation ; it 

 was obvious that although a few additional species jnight from time to time be 

 added to the catalogue as the outside corners of the district were more 

 minutely examined, yet no material additions could be expected to the number 

 of forms enumerated. Our knowledge of the flowerless plants of the district 

 is in a much less satisfactory condition, so that this paper must be taken less 

 as an account of the members of this section, than as a statement showing the 

 actual extent of work accomplished in this department of phytological research ; 

 although the number of species enumerated greatly exceeds that of the flower- 

 ing plants, there can be no doubt that at least an equal number remain to be 

 collected. 



So far as I am aware, no attempt has hitherto been made to draw up an 

 account of the cryptogamic plants found in the neighbourhood of any of the 

 seats of settlement in this colony. The only account for any district is that 

 published by Dr. Lindsay in his " Contributions to the Botany of New 

 Zealand," for a portion of the Province of Otago, " sixty miles long by an 

 average of five and a maximum of thirty-five broad," and which includes a 

 part of the vicinity of Dunedin. It cannot, however, be taken as a fair- 

 account of the cry^Dtogamic flora of that locality, as all mention is omitted of 

 many Cryptogams known to occur within its limits. Making, however, all 

 needful deductions for this and other defects so freely stated by its author, its 

 rich lists of Lichens and Diatoms are invaluable. It can hardly be expected 

 that lists for these families, equally copious and reliable, will, at present, be 

 compiled for any other locality. 



In the following catalogue the orders most defective are the Fungi and 

 Algse. Of the former, it may safely, be said that not a tithe of the actual 

 number of the existing forms has been ascertained. The Marine Algt^ are 

 nearly confined to forms deposited on the beach after storms, with the addition 

 of the few kinds found growing between tide-marks in the harbour : no attempt 

 at dredging has yet been made. 



* For Part I. see Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. III., p. 148. 



