GENERAL INTUODUCTKJN 3 



space as New Zealand, It might be expected, tlierefore, that 

 not many plants would cover large areas of the countr)- to the 

 exclusion of other species ; and tins is the case. Except for 

 the beeches, the manuka, the tussock-grass, and the bracken 

 fern, few species monopolise any large tract of country. The 

 constant changes of surface, altitude, and climate must of 

 necessity- be reflected m the plant-covermg of the land. ]^jven 

 the most careless observer is struck by the great differences 

 nr the floras of the eastern and western sides of the dividing 

 range — differences corresponding in a large measure, to increase 

 or decrease of average rainfall. In some places, witlnii a 

 distance of a mile or two, the beech forest of the drier regions 

 changes into the mixed bush of the moister western area. 



New Zealand, therefore, presents a field of unsurpassed 

 interest to the botanist. Here he may hnd plants grouped 

 together into as many different associations as on a continent. 

 All chisses of habitat, from the littoral to the alpine ; from the 

 arid plain to the lake, from the rock to the peat-bog, from 

 moorland to salt meadow, are well represented. Plants are to 

 be met with in an almost endless variety of situations. We 

 shall, however, at present consider only the plants of the open 

 plains, the forest (or, as it is locally termed, the " bush "), the 

 scrub, and the mountains. 



The Open Cuuxtky, 



" I see again the upland wilds, 

 Stern, rugged, l)Ieali, and bare ; 

 Tlie strong winds sweep o'er the hill sides steep 

 And the tussoeivs toss in the icy air 

 Silver and gold in the changing light, 

 Gold and silver far up on the heights 

 -Of the mountain wild and l)a.re." 



D.-WID McKEE WUIGHT. 



Tliroughout New Zealand, from Southland to the North Cape, 

 there are numerous open plains of greater or lesser extent. 

 In England such spaces would l)e meadow lands, carpeted with 



