12 * 
PREFACE. 
Since 1851, as I have before observed, no addition of importance has 
been made to our knowledge of the Flowering plants of the Northern 
Island ; which I greatly regret, as much remains to be done in all the 
mountain districts in collecting the Graminece , Cyperacece, and Crypto- 
gamia everywhere, and in observing the habits and characters of the 
species of Veronica, Coprosma, Astelia, and many other genera. As 
regards Flowerless plants, two valuable papers by Mr. Knight and 
Mr. Mitten, on some of the Lichens of Auckland,* and by Mr. 
KALPHst on the Tree-ferns, are almost the only published contribu- 
tions made since that date to our knowledge of its Flora. 
The Middle Island, on the other hand, has furnished several diligent 
explorers and many capital discoveries. Dr. Munro has made further 
excellent collections on the Nelson mountains, as have Dr. Sinclair 
and Capt. Kough. To W. T. Luke Travers, Esq., F.L.S., of Can- 
terbury, I am indebted for many fine plants discovered in the alpine 
ranges of Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough, during various ex- 
cursions. Many of these being ticketed as to elevation, are the more 
valuable. His observations on the spread of introduced plants are 
extremely interesting, and will, I hope, be fully followed up4 
The great opportunities enjoyed by the distinguished geologist and ex- 
plorer, Julius Haast, Esq., F.L.S., F.G.S., Government Geologist of 
Canterbury, have been used to the best advantage in the furtherance of 
botanical science, he having contributed more new species to the Flora 
of the islands than any collector since Mr. Colenso. I am indebted to 
him also for a series of maps, notes, and observations, especially re- 
specting the ranges of the mountain plants, including the most alpine 
species hitherto discovered, which have been of great service. It is 
difficult to imagine how, with so many and such arduous duties as 
surveyor and geologist, Mr. Haast can have personally effected so much 
for botany as he has done, and I anticipate that his method of making 
complete collections ou each mountain and on each line of march, will 
eventually do much to develop the extremely curious subject of the 
variations of New Zealand plants. Mr. Haast has further called my 
attention to the labours of his assistant Mr. William Young, who 
has made several interesting discoveries, more particularly amongst the 
Grasses and Sedges of the alpine regions. 
From the Otago province I have an excellent herbarium of Dunedin 
* Transactions of the Linaean Society of London, xxiii. 99 and 101 . 
+ Journal of Linnean Society of London, Bot. iii. 1G3. 
J See ‘ Natural History Review,’ January, 1861. 
