THE VASCULAR FLORA OF MACQUARIE ISLANB. -CHEESEMAN. 
27 
ARALIACEiE. 
Stilbocarpa polaris A. Gray. 
Stilbocarpa polaris A. Gray Bot. U.S. ExpL Exped. (1854), p. 714; Hook. f. Handbk. 
N.Z. FI. (1864), p. 100; T. Kirk Students’ El. (1899), p. 215; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
FI. (1906), p. 227, also Illustr. N.Z. FI. I (1914), t. 70, and Subantarctic Islands of 
N.Z. II (1909), p. 409. Aralia polaris Homb. et Jacq. ex Hook. f. FI. Antarct. I 
(1844), p. 19; Hook. f. Ic. Plant, t. 701; Homb. et Jaeq. Bot. Voy. Astro!, et Zel. 
(1852), p. 55, t. 2 Dicot. 
Macquarie Island :—Abundant on the slopes of the hills, and ascending almost 
to their summits. Scott (1880); A. Hamilton (1894); H. Hamilton (1912-1913). 
As I have elsewhere remarked, the discovery of Stilbocarpa dates back to 1840, 
in which year it was collected in the Auckland Islands, in quick succession, by Dr. Holmes 
of the American Exploring Expedition ; by Admiral D’Urville, the commander of the 
French ships “ Astrolabe ” and “ Zelee,” and by Sir J. D. Hooker, who accompanied the 
Antarctic Expedition of Sir James Clark Eoss. It was made known to the scientific 
world in 1843, under the name of Aralia polaris, through a beautiful plate issued in 
advance of the “ Botany of the Astrolabe and Zelee,” but Hooker’s description in the 
Flora Antarctica, published in 1844, was the first good account to appear. Since then 
it has been observed and admired by every visitor to the Subantarctic Islands of New 
Zealand. 
As for the physiognomy of Stilbocarpa, so many excellent accounts have been 
published that it is not necessary to repeat information already widely known. I may 
be allowed, however, to quote Hooker’s remarks to the effect that it is “ one of the 
most handsome and singular of the vegetable productions in the group of islands that 
it inhabits, which certainly contains a greater proportion of large and beautiful plants, 
relatively to the whole vegetation, than any country with which I am acquainted. 
Growing in large orbicular masses, on rocks and banks near the sea, or amongst the dense 
and gloomy vegetation of the woods, its copious bright green foliage, and large umbels 
of waxy flowers, often nearly a foot in diameter, have a most striking appearance.” 
The above words refer to its appearance in Auckland Island, where it is associated 
with many other striking plants. In Macquarie Island, where Pleurophyllum is the 
only other really handsome species, Stilbocarpa is still more conspicuous. 
Stilbocarpa was first observed on Macquarie Island by Dr. Scott in 1880. He 
remarks that it “ is found all over the island, growing in large patches. In sheltered 
corners on the lower ground it is a handsome plant, and its bright green leaves are 
always conspicuous.” A. Hamilton, in the account of his later visit in 1894, says ? 
“ Once beyond the belt of swamp you ascend the steep slopes of the hills, and here you 
struggle and wrestle with the huge leaves of the Macquarie Island Cabbage ( Stilbocarpa 
polaris ), a plant resembling very fine rhubarb ..... Bound the tops of the 
hills in some of the more sheltered places or gullies stunted plants of Stilbocarpa and 
