388 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERvE 



Geranium molle, Linn. 



This species was first collected in New Zealand by Dr Lyall, who 

 visited these islands in 1847-49 in H.M.S. 'Acheron,' and Sir J. D. 

 Hooker in including it in the Handbook of the New Zealand Flora 

 admitted that he was much puzzled with the plant. It was also 

 found in Hawke's Bay by Colenso. Kirk in the Student's Flora of 

 New Zealand treated it purely as a naturalised species. Cheeseman 

 in including it among the indigenous plants in his Manual of New 

 Zealand Flora says : 



There can be little doubt that this is introduced, but as it has had a place 

 given to it in previous works on New Zealand plants, and as it is now found 

 in all soils and situations, and would certainly be considered indigenous 

 by a stranger unacquainted with its history, it appears best to retain it 

 in the Flora. 



1 think it should have been relegated to the list of naturalised plants 

 in the Appendix, where, unfortunately, it does not appear. It is very 

 common in pastures at the present time. 



This species is visited in Europe by Apis mellifica, Bombus terrestris 

 and Lucilia ccesar. 



Erodium cicutarium, L'Herit. Stork's-bill 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864, var. cheer ophyllum, DC. 

 reported by Kirk from Auckland district in 1869. It is abundant in 

 waste places and cultivated ground throughout New Zealand. In the 

 desiccated regions of Central Otago it is especially abundant, and, 

 according to Petrie, is readily eaten by stock^. It dies off by mid- 

 summer, but seldom fails to mature plenty of seed. 



In Europe the flowers are visited by Apis mellifica and Calliphora 

 erythrocephala. (FL, Sept. to March.) 



Erodium moschatum, L'Herit. Musky Stork's-bill 



First recorded by Kirk in 1869 from Auckland district; and in 

 1871 in Canterbury by Armstrong. In 1882 Cheeseman says "an 

 abundant weed, especially in light soils." In the Manual (1906) he 

 reports it as abundant by roadsides and in waste places in both 

 islands. (FL, Oct. to Feb.) 



Erodium malachoides, Willd. 



Originally recorded by Cheeseman, 1882, as E. maritimum, 

 Linn., from Mongonui, Bay of Islands and Waiwera. Kirk states that 

 this was naturalised at the Bay of Islands in 1867, but was not 

 observed elsewhere, till he found it on a ballast heap in Wellington 



1 Dr Cockayne tells me that it is sown for sheep feed in denuded areas of the 

 United States of America. 



