BUTOME^ 481 



NUDIFLORiE 



BUTOME^ 

 Hydrocleis nymphceoides, Buchen. 



Reported by Cheeseman in 1898 as occurring in the Thames 

 Valley at Te Aroha. In 1912 he records the history of its introduction 

 as follows: 



I am indebted to Mr Neve for numerous specimens of this handsome 

 water-plant, which he informs me is now plentiful in several lagoons or 

 backwaters near the Thames River, at Te Aroha, and is apparently rapidly 

 increasing. According to inquiries kindly made for me by Mr Neve, it 

 was planted nearly twenty years ago by a Mr Wood in a lagoon on his 

 property about a mile and a half from Te Aroha. In this locality it now 

 covers an area of more than an acre in extent, and has become a con- 

 siderable nuisance, blocking up drains and water-channels. The beauty 

 of the flowers has induced several settlers to transfer it to other localities 

 near Te Aroha. In all of these it is rapidly increasing, and there is every 

 probability of its spread in suitable places in the Thames Valley. 



ALISMACE^ 



Alisma Plantago, Linn. Water Plantain 



First recorded by Colenso as collected by H. Hill in water- 

 courses in Hawke's Bay (R. Tukituki) in 1892. Later from the in- 

 terior of Otago, Tokomairiro River, E. of Milton, by Petrie, and by 

 Cheeseman from near Marton in 1906. 



NAIADES 

 Aponogeton distachyon, Thunb. Cape Water-lily 



Kirk first records this in the Auckland district in 1869 as abundant 

 in streams and ponds in the Bay of Islands and Whangarei, but says 

 he was informed by Hutton that it was introduced by the missionaries 

 at Waimate. Cheeseman says (1921) that it is common in shallow 

 water throughout the North Island. 



CORONARIE^ 



LILIACE^ 



Asparagus officinalis, Linn. Asparagus 



Introduced early last century. First recorded as a garden escape 



by Kirk in 1869 in the Auckland district. He also reports it from 



near Wellington in 1877, and adds: "Solitary plants are sometimes 



found originating from seed carried by birds. It can scarcely expect 



to maintain its position, except perchance in maritime localities." 



Cheeseman in 1882 states that solitary plants are frequently seen, 



doubtless originating from seeds conveyed by birds from gardens. 



T. N. Z. 31 



