Levin Native Flora Club's Activities

Chronicle (Levin), 12 July 1949, Page 4

Levin Native Flora Club's Activities

Members of the Levin Native Flora Club were recently giveh an Instructive talk by Dr. Greta Cone of Wellington, who ehose fungi as the subject of her ad-dress. She had on display coloured drawings, each ah exact replica df the original m its: fresh State. ' Difficult ' research work must have been undercaken by Dr. -Cone in the defining oi the various specj.es, which, it is be ieved, run into thousands, as only by microscopic measurements can they be defined. Some of the club's memoers haVe spent many happy hours collecting specimens to assist Dr. Cone in her research work.^Prior

co the talk an inleresting colour film was shown. A fine1 plant of Xeronemia from the Hen and Chicken Islands was seen in all its showy brightness. It is a red flower and was growing in Dr, Oiver's garden in Wellington when photographe'd. Members. also had glimpses into other native gardens in Wellington. Then came a picturesque trip to Levin with peeps into the gardens of two clu|) members, one showing a flourishing rock garden, Hebe, Libertia, Ixioides, Hibiscus Divirsifolius, Linum Monogynum and Leptospernum Martinii being some1 of the plants noticed. In the other gardens were some fine exhibits of Mahoe. Next was shown one of the club's ouiings to Hokio, members being seen enjoying lunch in a pretty bush setting where some fine bushes of Korokia Cotoneaster in

berry and Kowhia, in bloom were seen to advantage. The folJowing day Dr. Cone acr companied . members on a trip up the Makaretu Stream, where all enjoyed a happy day collecting specimens of ferns for Massey College and in a further search for rare fungi. At the June meeting Mrs. Travers gave an interesting talk on the nikau palm (Rhopalostylis Sapida) and a'so the cabbage tree family, Cordyline Australis, Cordyline Banksia and 'Cordyline Indivisa. Then iollowed ,an interesting talk by Mr. R. A. Prouse on a recent trip which he, with others, had undertaken to the North Auckland province in search of rare native snail shells. Both live and fossilised specimens were found of which several were brought to the meeting for members to examine. Mr. J. P. Prouse, who also accompanied the party, gave an ehlightening talk on the kauri and its degeneration," particularly in the WaipouaForest.