﻿Cheeseman.^ — Botany of Tithangi District. 273 



manoao {Dacrydium Colensoi) are too local to be ever of any use for economical 

 purposes. 



The western coast is exti-emely rugged and broken throughout its whole 

 length, and presents a bold front to the sea, the cliffs generally being from 200 

 to 300 feet high, and in one locality at least, near the rocky islet of Parera, 

 they attain a perpendicular height of over 500 feet. Near the Manukau Head, 

 and extending about five miles northwards, a narrow belt of low sand hills 

 may be seen on the seaward side of the cliffs, whilst further north the sea beats 

 against the foot of a rocky coast line, except in a few isolated sandy bays. 



The vegetation is principally composed of bush, but there is a considerable 

 extent of open grassy land near the sea. In the forest the species appear to be 

 nearly identical with those in the central part of the district, the principal 

 difference being in the great abundance of Pittosporuni ovatum,, and the 

 presence of Ozothamnus glomeratus, Myrtus RalpMi, and some others, together 

 with the occuri-ence near the sea of Sapota costata. The sea cliffs and rocky 

 slopes abound with interesting herbaceous plants, and would probably repay a 

 more careful investigation than I have been able to give them. Among many 

 other species, Celmisia longifolia, Angelica roscefolia, Gotula dioica, Spergularia 

 rubra, Tetragonia trigyna, and Myosotis australis are abundant. On the sand 

 dunes the common arenarian plants occur, while by the margins of the lagoons 

 and at the mouths of the streams such forms as Triglochin triandrum, Crantzia 

 lineata, and Myriophyllum pedunculatum are plentifully found. 



Owing to the small area of land brought under cultivation, natui'alized 

 plants ai'e not so common as in many other districts, and have exercised com- 

 paratively little influence on the indigenous vegetation. Still many species are 

 found by road sides and near the sawing stations, and with the progi-ess of 

 settlement their numbers are yearly increasing. At present HypochcBris radi- 

 cata is the species most generally diffused, unless Cyperus tenellus be considered 

 of foreign origin. The various species of docks, Prunella vulgaris, Veronica 

 serjjylli/blia, Trifoliwm minus, Erigeron canadensis, together with the com- 

 moner pasture and forage plants, are also very generally distributed throughout 

 the district. 



The subjoined catalogues include about 460 pha^nogamic plants and ferns, 

 together with nearly 110 naturalized plants. Although the number of indi- 

 genous plants noted is considerably lai'ger than has hitherto been recorded from 

 any distiict of like area, yet it will be materially increased when the central 

 and western subdivisions have been more thoroughly examined. 



Lepidium oleraceum, Forst. Two very distinct varieties are found in this 

 district ; one, which also appears to be the common form near Auckland, is 

 a procumbent plant, with linear, deeply pinnatifid radical leaves, linear- 



