456 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



Mimulus luteus, Linn. 

 First recorded in 1876 by the author as common on streams 

 near Dunedin. In 1877 Kirk reported it as abundant in swampy or 

 moist places in several parts of Wellington Province. In the Manual 

 (1906) it is stated to occur in damp places, sides of streams, etc., 

 from Wellington southwards. Mr J. Belton tells me that about 

 Lake Ellesmere it fills the ditches for miles. 



Mimulus moschatus, Dougl. Musk 

 First recorded by the author as a naturalised weed in Otago in 

 1875, and again in 1877 by Kirk from two points in the Wellington 

 provincial district. It does not appear to have established itself 

 further north, as Cheeseman in the Manual (1906) reports it as 

 occurring in damp places, sides of streams, etc., from Wellington 

 southwards. It is abundant in Otago. 



This species tends in many localities, especially in the southern 

 parts of New Zealand, to monopolise the ground where it grows, 

 and thus to appear as a "pure formation." 



Digitalis purpurea, Linn. Foxglove 

 First recorded by Hooker in 1864, then in 1877 in Wellington 

 by IGrk. Cheeseman in recording it in 1882 from Auckland Isthmus, 

 Thames and Whangarei, states that it is by no means common. Even 

 in the Manual (1906) it is said to be "an occasional garden escape, 

 not common," in both islands. It is, however, very common in certain 

 localities, and in the far north, e.g. near Hokianga, has taken complete 

 possession of many old lava flows. 

 A northern correspondent writes : 



at the present time purple and white foxgloves, growing in profusion on 

 the Wangamoa hills (north-east of Nelson), present a glorious blaze of 

 colour. This noxious pest has apparently got completely out of hand, and 

 threatens to ruin the countryside. 



At Tokaanu at the south end of Lake Taupo, in 1906, it formed a 

 "pure formation" over very large areas of country, having nearly 

 crowded out all other vegetation. 



It used to be very common in places near Dunedin, but its com- 

 parative disappearance is explained by this peculiarity, that it tends to 

 die out of pasture land when it is not pulled out of the ground. 

 Wherever it is pulled out of the ground and the surface soil is thus dis- 

 turbed , fresh seedlings spring up . I am informed that in the Wairarapa 

 district some farmers have expended as much as £150 a year in their 

 endeavours to clear the land of foxglove, by pulling it out. Others 

 who have elected to leave it, have been fineA fifty shillings for a breach 



