454 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



Nicotiana acutiflora, A. St Hil. 

 First recorded by Kirk in 1895 as occurring on a ballast heap in 

 Wellington. Introduced from Buenos Ayres. 



Nicotiana suaveolens, Lehm. Native 

 Tobacco of Australia 



The Agricultural Department's report for 1899 states that a single 

 specimen of this plant was collected in (Napier ?) Hawke's Bay, evi- 

 dently introduced in ballast. 



Petunia parviflora, Juss. 



First recorded by Kirk in 1895 as occurring — along with the 

 preceding species — on a ballast heap in Wellington. Introduced from 

 Buenos Ayres in 1892. I do not think it has succeeded in establishing 

 itself. 



OLEINEiE 



Syringa vulgaris. Lilac 



This species only occurs in New Zealand as a cultivated shrub, 

 but I refer to it here because a common native longicorn beetle 

 {Prionoplus reticularis) has taken to it as a convenient dwelling place. 

 W. W. Smith of New Plymouth finds that the larvas bore extensively 

 into the stems of old plants, and he has reared the mature insect 

 from them. 



SCROPHULARINE^ 



Verbascum Thapsus, Linn. Mullein 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864, and then by Kirk in 1877 

 from Wellington. Cheeseman records it from volcanic hills near 

 Auckland; and as plentiful at Matamata in 1879. In the Manudl 

 (1906) it is said to be "abundantly naturalised in dry places." It is 

 particularly in evidence in rabbit-infested areas such as Central Otago, 

 as it is one of the few plants rabbits will not eat, on account of its 

 densely woolly character. 



In Europe the flowers are visited by Apis mellifica, Bombus hor- 

 torutn and B. terrestris. 



Verbascum Blattaria, Linn. Moth Mullein 



First recorded by Kirk in 1870 as occurring at Mt Eden, Auckland 

 and on the North Head, Waitemata; and again from Wellington in 

 1877. Cheeseman in 1882 states that it occurs in waste places and 

 pastures, from Auckland to Waikato. It is not uncommon in many 

 parts of both islands at the present time. 



