Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 3.djvu/323

Rh hills, the epiphytic form of Griselinia lucida, which was unusually abundant, had a remarkable effect, from the contrast of its bold glossy foliage with that of the rimu, tawa, or rata, upon which it chanced to be growing. It is but rarely that the genera Hymenophyllum and Trichomanes are seen, as they appear to be in these patches of forest; only a few of the commoner forms were observed, and those only in small quantity.

On the sand hills about Peringa and Whakawa, Zoysia pungens, a small growing native grass is abundant, forming a compact turf, and affording a large supply of succulent herbage to horses and cattle. Although this grass occurs in many localities, from the North Cape southwards, it is rarely found in so great abundance. Astelia Banksii occurs on the cliffs, evincing its decided preference for a maritime habitat. Crantzia, Salicornia, Mesembryanthemum, and other littoral plants occur here in profusion.

Ascending the river from Port Waikato, Avicennia officinalis and Plagianthus divaricatus are found for a short distance, but the extensive swamps and low lands which stretch to the vicinity of Tuakau, present but little of interest, except occasionally to the flax manufacturer; occasionally extensive patches of kahikatea are seen, and, on a large island opposite Mercer, are some fine specimens of the tarairi (Nesodaphne Tarairi, Hook. f.), the finest I saw in the Waikato. This handsome tree appears to attain its southern limit between Mercer and Rangiriri, thus exhibiting a very restricted range when compared with the tawa (Nesodaphne Tawa, Hook. f.), the only other member of the genus, and which, according to Buchanan, is found in the Province of Marlborough.

At Kohe-kohe, above Mere-mere, a solitary ngaio (Myoporum lætum), evidently planted, is pointed out by the Maoris as a "pakeha" tree; two stunted specimens were observed on abandoned native cultivations at Pangiriri. In the Waikato it appears to be confined to the coast, and flourishes only in situations exposed to the sea breeze. The puriri (Vitex littoralis) is not observed by the river side further south than about three miles above Meremere, although it is met with in several localities between the river and the coast; it is however decidedly rare in the Upper Waikato.

In places where the current is not too swift, a dense growth of Typha latifolia, Scirpus lacustris, and S. maritimus, is found at the foot of the bank and in the adjacent marshes; in shallow places in the river, Myriophyllum variæfolium, an undescribed Potamogeton allied to P. zosteræfolius, Schum., and a species with floating as well as submerged leaves, allied to P. natans and P. heterophyllus, are abundant. Nitella Hookeri often forms large patches, and in shallow gravelly places, Zannichellia palustris is occasionally met with; this appears to be a rare plant in the colony, having been previously collected on the east coast of the North Island only. The paucity of fluviatile plants in the Waikato is remarkable, although some allowance must be made