ARTICLE XXI.— THE CHIEF PLANT FORMATIONS AND 

 ASSOCIATIONS OF CAMPBELL ISLAND. 



By Robert M. Laing, M.A., B.Sc. 



State of the Season. 



About a week in the latter part of November, 1907, was spent on Campbell Island, 

 during which time Mr. Crosby Smith and myself examined the plant covering on 

 the greater portion of its surface. It was too early to find most of the plants in full 

 flower. However, we were fortunate enough to find an occasional early flower on 

 plants of a good many species, though the season was two or three weeks behind 

 that of the Aucklands. I particularly noticed that in several cases the flowers were 

 further advanced on the tops of the hills than near the sea — for example, specimens 

 more luxuriant in growth and fuller in flower of Ranunculus pinguis and Cardamine 

 glacialis var. subcarnosa were found near the summit of Mount Fizeau than at sea- 

 level. It is true that the plants of the mountain-top were sheltered in rocky crevices 

 and holes, where they may have been actually warmer during the day than those 

 near the base, yet, as is well known, plants grown at a height often flower earlier 

 than the same species at a lower altitude.* 



Portion of the Island examined. 



A short account of the routes taken by myself, in company with Mr. Crosby 

 Smith and others, whilst on Campbell Island will probably be of assistance in point- 

 ing out to subsequent observers what are the portions of the island still unexplored 

 botanically. Our first trip was from the camp on the north side of Perseverance 

 Harbour, round the south end of the harbour, past the western side of Mount Filhol, 

 thence round the eastern side of Monument Bay, nearly to its outlet. A similar 

 route was followed in returning, except that the shoulder lying between Mount 

 Filhol and Mount Honey was crossed. On the following day an attempt was made 

 to reach North-west Bay, but the party was driven back to camp by very severe 

 weather, after getting about half-way from the camp to the nearest point of the 

 bay. Another excursion was over the saddle on the western side of Mount Lyall, 

 thence along the edge of the western cliffs, and by way of the saddle between Mount 

 Azimuth and Mount Fizeau, across the north-eastern slopes of Mount Faye, to a point 

 about half a mile from the north-eastern corner of the island. A day was spent in 

 examining carefully the flora of Mount Beeman and of the immediate neighbourhood 

 of the camp. The southern side of Perseverance Harbour, particularly the coast- 

 line for a distance of from two to three miles east of Venus Cove, was also carefully 

 searched at another time. A few plants were brought in from other parts of the 



* Vide " Les vegetaux et les milieux cosmiques," J. Costantin, p. 58. 



