﻿KiEK. — The British and New Zealand Floras compared. 253 



aud Schoenus abound, differing widely in appearance from tlie solitary British 

 representatives of these genera. Lomaria procera and, in the south, L. vulcanica, 

 often cover large areas. The peculiar appearance of Gleichenia circinata, the 

 erect Lyco2)odium densum, and the semi-scandent habit of L. voluhile, cannot 

 be compared with any British plants in regard to habit of gi'owth, A few 

 willow herbs and other herbaceous plants, especially several species of 

 Haloragis, are of frequent occuiTence, but insignificant appearance. Many 

 grasses are sparingly scattered amongst the shrubs and fern, but they rarely 

 assume a social character ; even on the plains of the South Island they seldon^ 

 form a compact sward, unless mixed with introduced species. 



Phormium tenax everywhere affords a striking feature, especially when i^ 

 flower, and the Luge tussocks and lofty panicles of the toe-toe (Arundo con- 

 sjncua) at once attract attention ; the cutting toe-toe (Cyiiei'us ustulatus) is 

 abundant on moist ground, and is remarkable for its singularly harsh anci 

 rigid habit. 



It must be admitted that the manuka, although copiously sprinkled with 

 snowy blossoms, offers a poor substitute for the fur^e and social heaths of 

 Britain, with their attractive flowers. The herbaceous composites of Britain, 

 with the exception of two or three forms, are not represented ■ its showy 

 water-crowfoots ai'e unknown ; its charming milk-wort ; its crucifers and clove- 

 worts. The absence of its roses, brambles, and hawthorn, is at once noticed, 

 even by the most careless observer. No trefoil, clovers, vetches, or wild peas, 

 are found here. The showy bell-flowers are poorly represented by two or 

 three species of Wahlenhergia. Its lowland forget-nae-nots, its mullein and 

 toad-flax, louse-wort and yellow-rattle, primrose and loose-strifes, have no 

 substitutes. One or two speedwells closely resemble English forms, but they 

 are rare and local ; as are the lowland eyebrights. The dead-nettles, bugles, 

 germanders, and other labiates, are represented only by a single species belongs 

 ing to the order in the North, and by two only in the South Island. Sponge- 

 worts, so numerous in Britain, are represented by a single littoral species. 

 With one exception, the charming terrestial orchids of Britain are represented 

 by widely different forms, which evince a closer affinity with the Tasmariiaii 

 Flora than is shown by any other group of New Zealand plants, The absence 

 of the showy flowered lacustrine plants of Britain has already been pointed 

 out, I will only add that, with one exception, the New Zealand water^milfoils 

 are more or less sub-aquatic. I have only met with one species that is con- 

 stantly submerged. Myriophyllum rohustum especially, which is allied to 

 the British M. verticillatum, is never submerged, but may be seen in 

 the country between the Thames and Waikato, growing in immense 

 abundance, thiee to four feet in height, and resembling a miniature i)inf 

 forest. 



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