48o MONOCOTYLEDONS AND FERNS 



Sisyrinchium micranthum, Cav. 



First recorded by Cheeseman in 1896 from the North Cape 

 district. In the Manual (1906) he defines the locality more exactly 

 as "sandy shores of Spirits Bay, North Cape district." 



Gladiolus byzantinus, Linn. 



Recorded by Kirk in 1869 from the Auckland district, but ap- 

 parently only a fugitive garden escape, which does not succeed in 

 naturalising itself. In 1882 Cheeseman records Gladiolus, sp. as a 

 frequent garden escape. 



Antholyza athiopica, Linn. 



First recorded in the Auckland district in 1869 by T. Kirk. 

 Cheeseman in 1882 states that it "has established itself in several 

 localities near Auckland." In the Manual (1906) it is reported as 

 occurring in "fields and waste places from Auckland to Otago, but 

 often local." 



Sparaxis tricolor, Ker. 



Cheeseman records this in 1882 as a garden escape near Auckland, 

 not common. Apparently it has not established itself. 



AMARYLLIDE^ 



Agave americana, Linn. American Aloe 



First recorded as a garden escape in the Auckland district by 

 Kirk, and in 1877 near deserted homesteads in Wellington. Cheese- 

 man in 1882 states that old plants throw up a multitude of suckers. 

 The author noticed it in great profusion at Russell in the Bay of 

 Islands in 1884. 



Narcissus biflorus. Curt. 



Recorded among introduced plants on Kapiti in 1906 by 

 L. Cockayne. 



DIOSCORIDE>^ 



Dioscorea alata. Yam 



This species was cultivated for a short time at the Bay of Islands, 

 but by whom introduced, I am not sure, and was recorded by Hooker 

 in 1864. Kirk could find no wild specimens in 1869. Polack says 

 the Kaipara natives cultivated the yam, which he calls Kaipakeha, 

 in the Kaipara district (1831); but his identifications are doubtful. 



