OROBANCHE^ 



459 



lished in both islands as far south as Canterbury (but not in Otago 

 and Southland so far), growing on Tnfolium, Medicago, Lotus, Crepis, 

 Lathyrtis, Hypochceris, etc. It is particularly abundant in the Auckland 

 district, where it does considerable damage. Grazing animals never 

 eat parasitic or saprophytic plants like Orobanche. 



LABIATE 

 Mentha viridis, Linn. {Mentha spicata, L.) Spear-mint 

 No doubt introduced at a very early date after settlement began. 

 First recorded as an escape from cultivation by Hooker in the Auck- 

 land district in 1864. Found occurring abundantly in the extreme 

 south of Stewart Island in Wilson Bay by the author in 1874. In 1877 

 Kirk reported it from several places in the Wellington district. By 

 1880 it was common in ditches and waste ground in most districts 

 of the colony. In the wetter parts of the Canterbury Plains it chokes 

 many ditches and drainage channels. Recorded by Poppelwell in 

 191 1 as occurring in old clearings in Codfish Island and Rugged 

 Island. This species spreads freely by means of its underground 

 stems. 



Mentha piperita, Linn. Pepper-mint 



First recorded by Kirk in 1869 from the Auckland district, where 

 it was reported as spreading in 1882 by Cheeseman. Noted by the 

 author in several localities in the valley of the Clutha in 1885. In the 

 Manual (1906) it is stated to be an occasional garden escape in damp 

 places in both islands. The flowers are visited in Europe by Lucilia 

 ccesar. 



Mentha aquatica, Linn. Water-mint 



First recorded by Hooker in his list of 1864. Reported as spreading 

 in Auckland district in 1882. Cheeseman reports it in the Manual 

 (1906) as occurring, but not commonly, in wet places in the Auckland 

 district. 



In Europe this species is visited by Apis mellifica, Bombus hortorum, 

 Lucilia ccesar, Musca corvina, Eristalis tenax and Calliphora erythro- 

 cephala. 



Mentha arvensis, Linn. Corn or Field Mint 



First recorded by Armstrong in Canterbury in 1879, and by 

 Cheeseman from Auckland in 1882. In the Manual (1906) said to 

 be not uncommon in fields and waste places in the North Island. 

 This is one of the worst weeds of arable land in Britain, but fortunately 

 it has not spread much in New Zealand. In Europe it is visited by 

 Apis mellifica, Bombus terrestris and Lucilia ccesar. 



