BOTANICAL DISCOVERY. XXVI11 
imprudent attempt to ford the Rangitata River. Although he never 
published anything of importance on New Zealand plants, his name will 
always be remembered as one of the pioneers of botanical discovery in 
the colony. 
In the years 1847-51, H.M.S. ‘ Acheron,’ under the command of 
Captain Stokes, was engaged in the survey of the coast-line of New Zea- 
land, and especially of the western and south-western portions. Captain 
Stokes was accompanied as surgeon-naturalist by Dr. Lyall, who had 
served in a similar capacity in H.M.S. “ Terror”’ in the Antarctic Expedi- 
tion, and who made large collections, especially of Cryptogamia. Milford 
Sound, Chalky Inlet, Dusky Bay, Preservation Inlet, and both shores of 
Foveaux Strait were the chief localities botanized in by Lyall during this 
expedition. Among the plants collected were the first specimens of the 
magnificent Ranunculus Lyalli. 
In 1853 there appeared the first volume, containing the flowering- 
plants, of Sir J. D. Hooker’s “ Flora Novae-Zealandiae’”’; the second 
volume, including the cryptogams, following in 1855. The publication of 
this important work, in every way worthy of the reputation of its dis- 
tinguished author, marked a new era in the history of the botany of New 
Zealand. For the first time the student was provided with an account 
of the flora characterized by aptness of description and accuracy of detail, 
and prepared by a botanist who had not only studied and collected a 
large proportion of the species in their native habitats, but whose position 
gave him ample opportunities of examining the material upon which the 
publications of his predecessors were founded. Under such advantages 
the synonyms and false species incorrectly included by previous writers 
disappeared, and the flora assumed more of its real proportions and extent. 
Altogether, the Flora contains descriptions of 1,767 species, or more than 
double the number given in the last previous enumeration, that of Raoul 
in the “ Choix de Plantes.” Of the total number, 731 are flowering-plants 
and 119 ferns or fern-allies, the remainder falling into other orders of 
Cryptogamia. The value of the work is much enhanced by the 130 
carelully prepared plates which accompany it, and by the philosophic 
Introductory Essay dealing with the affinities and distribution of the 
species. 
The eleven years subsequent to the publication of the Flora formed a 
period of great activity in botanical research in the colony. This was 
mainly due to the rapid settlement of the South Island, which led to the 
exploration of the central range of mountains, from Nelson to Otago, and 
the consequent discovery of the rich alpine flora existing thereon. The 
earliest worker in this field was Sir D. Monro, the first of whose contribu- 
tions was received at Kew while the Flora was in progress. He explored 
a large part of north-eastern Nelson and Marlborough, making many 
capital discoveries, such as the magnificent Olearia insignis, Helichrysum 
coralloides, Celmisia Mowroi, Senecio Monroi, &c. His sole publication, so 
far as I can learn, is an interesting essay on the “‘ Geographical Botany of 
Nelson and Marlborough,” printed in the first volume of the “‘ Transactions 
of the New Zealand Institute.” 
Mr. W. T. L. Travers arrived in Nelson in 1849. About 1854 he took 
up the study of the alpine fiora of the South Island, making many 
excursions into remote and little-explored districts, and forming copious 
collections, the whole of which were forwarded to Kew. Among the 
localities botanized over by him were the upper Buller Valley, including 
a. 
