CHAPTER VI. 
The Flora. 
Investigation of the flora since Cook’s time. — Dr. Hooker’s classical work on the 
flora of New Zealand. — Number of the species of plants known. — News from the Alps. — 
New tropical ferns in the vicinity of hot springs. — Peculiarities of the flora. — Abundance 
of cryptogam ic plants. — New Zealand a botanical province of its own. — Affinity to the 
flora of Australia, South America, Europe, and the Antarctic Islands. — The mother-flora. — 
Hypothesis of a former continent, — Physiognomical character of the vegetation. — Scarcity 
of flowers. — Fern-heaths. — Grass-plains. — The forest scenery. — Appendix. List of alpine 
plants. — The “vegetable sheep. “ 
The peculiar flora of New Zealand is far better known than 
its geological structure and mineral riches, and far more completely 
than its fauna. For the earliest account of the plants of Now 
Zealand we are indebted to two of the most illustrious botanists 
of their age, and to the voyages of the greatest of modern navi- 
gators; for the first and to this day the finest and best illustrated 
herbarium that has ever been made in the islands by individual 
exertions is that of Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander, during 
Captain Cook’s voyage in 1769. Upwards of 860 species of plants 
were collected during the five months that were devoted to t the 
exploration of the East Coast, at various points between the Bay 
of Islands and Otago, including the shores of Cook’s Straits. 
Captain Cook was, on his second voyage, accompanied by three 
scientific men, all more or less conversant with botany, namely 
the two Forsters (father and son) and Dr. Sparrmcirm. Queen 
