C.—lo,

The present brief note does not purport to fill in all the deficiencies thus created in the recorded forest features of the park. It is based on a general moderately intensive knowledge of the lower level forests of the park district; but the writer has made no special catalogues of the park species, and in many portions he does not know to within a mile or two the exact location of the park boundaries on the ground. In an area where many species approach their altit-udinal limit, where altitude alters rapidly and suddenly, and where forest type meets forest type sometimes without even one chain of overlap between different associations, only an intensive and prolonged examination on foot of the actual- boundaries could determine the matter of the inclusion in or exclusion from the park forest florula of many species. These notes, on the contrary, are intended to indicate only such salient differences between the vegetation of the original park and that of the present-day area as are due to the fact that previously the park contained no land below 3,000 ft. in altitude. Species- In addition to the 259 species and varieties listed by Cockayne as occurring within the park, at least the following 56 additional species may be encountered by the present-day observer within or near the boundaries : — Pteridophyta. Hymenophyllacese —Trichomanes reniforme, Forst. Polypodiacese—continued. Cyatheacese — Asplenium bulbiferum, Forst. Cyathea dealbata, Sw. Blechnum jluviatile, Salom. ■ medullaris, Sw. Hypolepis tenuifolia, Bernh. Dicksonia squamosa, Sw. Paesia scaberula, Kuhn. fibrosa, Col. Ophioglossacese—Botrychium australe, R. Br. Polypodiacese — Lycopodiaceae— Dryopteris pennigera, C. Christen. Lycopodium Billardieri, Spring. Asplenium falcatum, Lam. Tmesipteris tannensis, Bernh. Spermaphyta. Taxacese — Myrtaceae—Metrosideros robusta, A. Cunn. Podocarpus ferrugineus, D. Don. (>nngracea>- Epilobhnn rotundifolium, Forst, spicatus, R. Br. Araliaceae-- ■ dacrydioides, A. Rich. Nothopanax Edgerleyi, Harms. Dacrydium cufressinum, Soland. parvurn (Kirk) Ckn Pandanacese Freycinetia Banksii, A. Cunn. Schefflera digitata, Forst. Juncac Ehr. Myrsinacete-SuUmia salicina, Hook. f. Liliacese —Astelia bolandri, A. Cunn. ofeacese Orchidacese —Corysanthes macrantha, Hook. f. „ . , .. TT , , tt , • 7-7 . • r -ci x Olea Uunmnqnanw, Hook. t. Urticacese —u rtica jerox, h orst. ? , , Balanophoracese—Dactylanthus Taylori, Hook. f. motuana, oo . . Polygonacese — Muêhienheekia australis, Mefssn. Apocynacesß-Parsmsia capsulars, R. Br. Kaimnculacese —Clematis indwisa, Willd. Gesneracese -Rhabdothamnus Solandn, A. Cunn. Magnoliacese —Drimys axillaris, Forst. Rubiace© Monimiaceee —Hedycarya arborea, Forst. Coprosma grandifolia, Hook. f. Laurace® —Beilschmiedia tawa, Hook. f. lucida, Forst. Pittosporacese — rotundifolia, A. Cunn. Pittosporum Kirkii, Hook. f. rhamnoides, A. Cunn. eugenioides, A. Cunn. Composite — Turneri, Cheesem. Olearia Cunninghamii, Hook. f. Rosacese —Itubus schmidelioides, A. Cunn. Gnaphalium luteo-album, Linn. Icacinaceee —Pennantia corymbosa, Forst. Erechtit.es prenanthoides, DC. Violaceee — Gnaphalium japonicum, Thunb. Melicytus, ramijlorus, Forst. Br achy glottis repanda, Forst. lanceolatus, Hook. f. Senecio Kirkii, Hook. f. The best species catalogue of the plants occurring in the locality of the forest portion of the park will be found in Phillips-Turner's Report on the Higher Waimarino District (published 1909). Its exhaustive and copious lists, however, describe vegetation of localities which do not exactly coincide with the areas within park boundaries as determined since its publication ; and so it is probable that inquirers would seek in vain within the park boundaries for many of the species there listed. The above list for adding to the original list of Cockayne's report has been compiled by culling from PhillipsTurner's lists such species as are with certainty to be found within or very near to the park boundaries, and by supplementing these selections from original notes of the florula furnished by Mr. B. C. Aston. Forest Types. —The report already referred to describes in some detail the different types of subantarctic Northofagus forest that may be encountered on the park. It contains also short paragraphs on the totara forest of Tongariro and the forest on Hauhungatahi, which appears to be rimu forest merging into kaikawaka forest at the higher altitudes. To these descriptions nothing need be added here except that attention must be drawn to the mass of Nothofagus forest to the south and east of Mount Ruapehu, extending to altitudes lower than those which, 011 the western flank, carry podocarp-dicotylous forest. There are in all the forests of the Dominion few clearer examples of the influence of aspect and exposure upon the constitution of a forest .

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