Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 15.djvu/592

488 I have to thank Mr. A. C. Purdie for the trouble he has taken in the naming and arranging of my plants.

The following is a list of the plants collected, with the natural orders to which they belong. None of them are new to science; I have therefore not thought it necessary to give any detailed botanical descriptions.

1. Ranunculus (acaulis?), not in flower. Found in damp places. Occurs in New Zealand, and Auckland Islands.

2. Colobanthus muscoides, not in flower. Found on rocks near the sea. Occurs in New Zealand, Auckland Islands, and Campbell Island.

3. Acæna (buchanani?), not in flower. Found on the hillsides.

4. Acæna ascendens, Bidibidi [Piripiri], in fruit. Found on the hillsides. Both of these common in New Zealand.

5. Tillæa sinclairii, in flower. Found in damp places. Occurs in New Zealand, Auckland Islands, and Campbell Island.

6. Azorella selago, not in flower. This is a rare and peculiar plant. It does not occur in New Zealand, and has never been observed in either the Aucklands or Campbell Island. It grows on the hillsides, forming prominent globular masses often 4 feet across. These are green on the surface, where the living part of the plant lies as a crust to the great mass of debris which forms the interior. This is the decaying remains of former years' growth, through which the roots descend. The whole makes a solid mass on which one can stand. The surface crust is particularly dense. The young shoots are so closely packed together and make so uniform a surface, that lichens and other small plants are sometimes found growing on it.

This same plant is best known from its occurrence in Kerguelen Land and the neighbouring islands. There it grows more abundantly. It is also said to occur among the mountains of Fuegia.

7. Azorella lycopodioides (?), not in flower. Grows in small masses. It has often been confused with Colobanthus subulatus, and as my specimen has neither flowers nor fruit it is named with some diffidence.

8. Stilbocarpa polaris, "Macquarie Island Cabbage" of the sealers, in flower and fruit. This plant 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.