C.—6

10

account of this wealth of hybrids the vegetation of Rainbow Mountain should be rigidly protected. Dr. A. W. Hill, C.M.G., F.R.S., Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, collected many of these hybrids, and is now studying intensively the New Zealand species and hybrids of Gauliheria —a difficult but much-needed piece of research. Tall shrubla.nd and low shrub-forest can be dealt with together, the species which compose them being identical, and the latter only a step further on towards forest proper, into which, in course of time, it must develop. It is also to be expected that, as humus accumulates, species absent at present will gain a footing, including various ferns. Certain important members of these communities have already been cited ; the following must be added to the list but they are in far less numbers, some local, and others rare: ti-ngahere (Cordyline Banksii), turutu (Dianella intermedia), rewarewa (Knightia excelsa), tawheowheo (Quintinia serrata) (upper part of mountain), tree-tutu (Coriaria arborea), lancewood (Pseudopanax crassijolium var. unifoliolatum), korokio (Corokia buddleoides var. linearis) broadleaf (Griselinia littoralis), tall mingimingi (Leucopogon fasciculatus), monoao (Dracophyllum subulatum), and akepiro (Olearia jurfuracea). There now remains to be described only the rain-forest of the crater —one of the most important features of the reserve. It can be viewed from above (Fig. 5) or reached by an excellent track (Fig. 12). According to Mr. Phillips Turner, steam issued from a few places in the forest-floor at the time of his visit, but now this has probably ceased. The area occupied is about an acre. Most of the species are absent elsewhere on the mountain. The tallest trees are miro (Podocarpus ferrugineus), rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), toatoa (Phyllocladus glaucus), rewarewa (Knightia excelsa), kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa), northern rata (Metrosideros robusta). There is a dense undergrowth of shrubs and small trees, including silver tree-fern (Cyaihea dealbata), green tree-fern (Hemitelia Smithii), wineberry (Austotelia serrata), treefuchsia (Fuchsia exeorticata), whauwhaupaku (Nothopanax arboreum), hangehange (Geniostoma ligustrifolium), kanono (Coprosma grandifolia), karamu (C. lueida), and rangiora (Brachyglottis repanda). On the floor there is a close growth of kiokio fern (Blechnum procerum) (6 ft. deep or more), some climbing polypody (Polypodium diversifolium), some shining spleenwort (Asplenium lucidum), and huge tussocks of a species of Gahnia, perhaps G. setifolia. Where the kiokio fern was thickest water lay on the ground. According to Mr. Phillips Turner there are the lianes supplejack (Rhipogonum seandens) and bush-lawyer (Rubus australis). The ferns Polypodium diversijolium and perching spleenwort (Asplenium adiantoides) and thick-leaved polypody (Cyclophorus serpens) are apparently the only perching plants, but the former is better classed as a climber. There yet remains for some one to investigate the other parts of the mountain, especially the portions facing north and east, when possibly a good many species would be added to the list, and the associations be better defined. But, incomplete as is my account, it should show how interesting is the ancient volcano from both the scenic and scientific points of view, and how it should be guarded with scrupulous care. Above all, the vegetation should never be interfered with, nor on any account should any plants either indigenous or exotic be planted in its precincts. The object of scenic reserves is to preserve them intact, but not to " improve " them into something different.

List of the Indigenous Vascular Plants.

Species, &e. Popular Name. Life-form. Remarks. Filices (Fern Family). Cyathea dealbata (Forst. f.) Sw. .. Silver tree-fern .. Medium-sized tree-fern .. Only in rain-forest of crater. Hemitelia Smithii (Hook, f.) Hook Green tree-fern .. Medium-sized tree-fern .. Only in rain-forest of crater. Asplenium cidiantoides (Linn, f.) Perching spleenwort .. Large fern with leaves in Only in rain-forest of C. Chr. tufts crater. lucidum Forst. f. .. .. Shining spleenwort .. Large fern with leaves in Only in rain-forest of tufts crater. Blechnum procerum (Forst.f.) C. Chr. Kiokio fern .. .. Fern with enormous spread- Only in rain-forest of ing leaves crater. Pteridiumesculentum (Forst. f.)Ckn. Bracken-fern.. .. Large fern, far-creeping and Only where li»ht is rooting abundant. Paesia scaber.ula (Presl.) Kuhn... Hard-fern .. .. Medium - sized fern, far- Only where light is creeping and rooting abundant; not common. Polypodium diversifolium Willd. .. Climbing polypody .. Medium-sized climbing fern Only in rain-forest of crater. Cyclophorus serpens (Forst. f.)C. Chr. Thick-leaved polypody.. Small creeping, perching Only in rain-forest of fern with thick leaves crater. Gleichenia microphylla R. Br. Scrambling umbrella-fern Large far-creeping On warm ground. scrambling fern Leptopteris hymenophylloide.i (A. Single crape-fern .. Large fern with thin leaves Only in rain-forest of Rich.) Presl. in tufts crater. Lycopodiaceae (Club-moss Family). Lycopodium cernuum L... .. Creeping club-moss .. Semi-woodv creeping plant On warm ground. fastigiatum R.Br. .. .. Alpine club-moss .. Semi - woody, erect, far- Very rare. creeping plant volubile Forst. f. .. .. Climbing club-moss .. Slender woody climbing Rare. plant