Systematic Botany.] StTBANTARCTlC ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 421 



Myrsinaceae. 

 Myrsine divaricata, A. Cunn. 



Myrsine divaricata, A. Cunn., Precur., n. 406 (1838). Suttonia divaricata. 

 Hook, f., Fl. Antarct., i, 51, t. 34 (1844). 



Auckland and Campbell Islands : Abundant in scrub from sea-level to a consider- 

 able height on the hills. Hooker and all subsequent collectors. (New Zealand, from 

 Mangonui southwards.) 



This, with several species of Co'prosma and Cassinia Vauvilliersii, together with 

 stunted Metrosideros and Dracofhyllum, usually form a belt of almost impenetrable 

 scrub above the level of the rata forest in the Auckland Islands, and with the Co- 

 prosmas and Dracophyllum in Campbell Island, from sea-level to a height of 500 ft. 



Few plants occupy such a range of diverse habitats as M. divaricata. It appears 

 equally at home in the moist sheltered river-valleys of the North Island, in the moun- 

 tain forests of the South Island, in the subalpine scrub of the Southern Alps, and 

 on the wind-swept hills of the Auckland and Campbell Islands. With respect to 

 its latitudinal range. Hooker has well drawn attention to the fact that it is the only 

 shrubby plant in the New Zealand area which can be found at or near sea-level in 

 the respective latitudes of 35° and 52^° S. 



Gentianaceae. 



(The early period of the season at which the expedition visited the islands made 

 it impossible to obtain a really good series of the Gentians, G. cerina and G. concinna 

 were only just coming into bloom on the Auckland Islands, and no flowering speci- 

 mens of any species were obtained on Campbell Island or Antipodes Island. The 

 following enumeration is therefore mainly based on the collections made by Mr. 

 Kirk in 1890. During this visit Mr. Kirk paid special attention to the genus, his 

 observations being incorporated in his " Revision of the New Zealand Gentians " 

 (Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxvii, pp. 330-341.) 



Gentiana cerina, Hook. f. 



Gentiana cerina, Hook, f., Fl. Antarct., i, 54, t. 36 (1844) ; T. Kirk in Trans, 

 N.Z. Inst., xxvii, 338 (1895). G. Campbelli, Homb. & Jacq., Bot. 

 Voy. Astrol. et Zel., 26, t. 31c. (1853). 



Auckland Island : Not uncommon from sea-level to over 1,000 ft. elevation ; 

 Hooker, D'Urville, Kirk ! Chapman ! Cockayne ! Aston ! Tennant ! Campbell Island : 

 I have seen no specimens, but Hombron and Jacquinot's G. Campbelli clearly be- 

 longs to this species, judging from the plate. (Endemic.) 



Kirk remarks that this is " one of the most beautiful plants in the flora, the 

 corolla varying in colour from a pure waxy white to white with a vertical red stripe, 

 purple, reddish-purple, and violet." He also states that " it varies much in habit 

 and luxuriance, according to the nature of the habitat in which it is growing." Ex- 

 cluding G. concinna, he admits two forms — cerina proper, in which the stems are 

 prostrate or trailing, and the leaves thick and fleshy, the flowers crowded at the 

 ends of the branches ; and suberecta, which has more slender suberect or decumbent 



