474 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



Manual (1906) it is stated to occur in "waste places, hedges, etc." in 

 both islands; an occasional escape from cultivation. I have seen it 

 growing wild, but as an escape only, about New Plymouth. 



Ficus Carica, Linn. Fig 



Probably introduced early last century by the missionaries. Polack 

 found it in cultivation in European gardens in the north of the North 

 Island in 1 83 1 . Recorded by Jerninghani Wakefield in 1 840 as growing 

 in Hokianga; and by Kirk in 1870 as abundantly naturalised in many 

 localities in the Waikato district. In 1877 he reported it as occasionally 

 found on the sites of abandoned gardens in Wellington Province. 

 Cheeseman in 1882 reported it "as wonderfully tenacious of life, 

 and not easily killed when once planted. It is thus frequently seen 

 in abandoned gardens, etc., but can hardly be considered naturalised." 

 That is practically the position to-day. 



Urtica urens, Linn. Small Nettle 



First recorded by Hooker in 1864 in his list of introduced plants, 

 and by Kirk in 1877 from Paikakariki, Wellington. Cheeseman in 

 1882 says this species has made its appearance in waste places about 

 Auckland, but it does not seem to spread. In the Manual (1906) it 

 is stated to occur in waste places in both islands, but not commonly. 

 It occurs occasionally, mixed with horehound, in and around sheep- 

 pens and sheep camping ground. I am not aware of any device by 

 which the fruit can adhere to wool or hair. 



Urtica dioica, Linn. Common Nettle 



First recorded by Dieffenbach in 1839, but his identifications are 

 often doubtful, as Hooker does not record it in 1864. However in 

 1877 Kirk reported it from Wellington, and in 1882 Cheeseman 

 records it as occurring in a few places about Auckland, but not 

 spreading. This species occurs sparingly in waste places in both 

 islands. 



MORE^ 



Broussonetta papyrifera, Lam. (?) 

 Paper-mulberry; Aute 



Sir Joseph Banks, who accompanied Captain Cook on his first 

 voyage to New Zealand, records the occurrence of this species: 



" After this," he says in his Journal, " they showed us a great rarity, six 

 plants of what they called aouta, from whence they make cloth like that of 

 Otahite. The plant proved exactly the same, as the name is the same, Morus 

 papyrifera, Linn, (the Paper Mulberry). The same plant is used by the 

 Chinese to make paper. Whether the climate does not agree well with it. 



