is of interest, while in the forest extending but little further south are to be found Adiantum formosum, Arthropteris tenella and Oplismenus undulatifolius.

Cape Turakirae and the mouth of Muku-muku River have a somewhat similar climate to that of Manawatu Gorge, but being completely isolated from the latter they have their peculiar floristic element. On the cliffs here, too, Phormium Colensoi is prominent. Festuca multinodis var. is abundant. Danthonia setacea is absent, but its place at Muku-muku River is taken by D. bromoides. Senecio Greyi is also abundant here, as well as Muehlenbeckia axillaris and some M. Astoni. Trisetum Youngii saxeticolum seems to be endemic to the coastal slips of this locality. Coprosma retusa, Myoporum laetum are prominent on the cliffs, while Corynocarpus laevigatus is generally abundant on the old fans.

Paekakariki hill cliffs are characterised by the presence in quantity of Coprosma retusa, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Myoporum laetum with the addition of some characteristic subtropic element, which extends up the hillsides for some 300 m. It must be noted that the cold south-easterly wind descending strongly from over the range becomes appreciably warm here, and this raises considerably the mean temperature. The characteristic species which are not to be found elsewhere on the Tararuas are the following:—Disoxylum spectabile, Melicope ternata, Mida Cunninghamii and Carmichaelia australis.

Mangatainoka and Upper Ruamahanga River basins have wide valley floors and fairly gentle valley slopes. The rainfall here is very low, especially in the Ruamahanga basin. Consequently the forest is very light and a fair amount of light reaches the floor. Whether there are other modifying factors involved is not certain. However, a number of species which as a rule keep above 600 m. descend here to almost 400 m. Especially noteworthy are Blechnum capense minor, Libertia pulchella and Pseudowintera colorata. In the Ruamahanga basin on the northern slopes between 400 and 500 m. the undergrowth under Nothofagus fusca is most peculiar in the assemblage of species. Here Hebe salicifolia, Leptospermum ericoides, Olearia arborescens, O. Colensoi, Senecio elaeangnifolius, Coprosma foetidissima, C. rotundifolia, C. Colensoi, C. Banksii, C. rhamnoides, C. robusta, Hoheria sexstylosa, Melicytus lanceolatus, Schefflera digitata, Nothopanax arboreum, Brachyglottis repanda, Coriaria arborea, Gaultheria antipoda, G. rupestris, Suttonia salicina, S. australis, and Astelia nervosa, representing wet and dry areas, and warm and cold belts, all grow together. Of especial interest, however, is the occurrence here of Coprosma tenuifolia, which does not occur elsewhere on the Tararuas.

Above the Ruamahanga River on the spur leading to Mount Pukeroa there is an extensive and almost pure association of Olearia Colensoi which extends vertically from mixed scrub at about 850 m. to 1200 m. The climate here is also noticeably dry and from various observations appears to be characterised by frequent dense but fine fog.

A little further north of this, on the long spur leading from Mangatainoka River to Mount Ruapai conditions appear to be even drier. Here at about the same altitudes O. Colensoi is completely absent and extensive areas are occupied by a dense association of Danthonia setacea setifolia, an association not to be seen anywhere else on the Tararuas.

The Park and Waiohine-iti are two parallel glaciated valleys in the central Tararuas. Their floors in the upper reaches are at about 900 m. altitude and are guarded on all sides by ridges well over 1200 m. with steep almost precipitous slopes. The wind in the valleys, judging by the vegetation, never assumes high velocity, and always blows up the valleys irrespective of the wind above it. It appears that the drying effect of the eddy currents must be appreciable. Further, the rainfall is probably considerably reduced by the high ridges. The steepness of the slopes and the porous nature of the soil of the valley floors must add to the general dryness of this local climate. At any rate, the total effect is to stop the forest abruptly on the valley sides, as well as on their floors, some distance below their heads. Scrub advances little further, tussock covering the remaining portions. That the conditions there must be rather dry is evidenced by the occurrence of fires, which, started accidentally by deer-stalkers, run through the tussock. Such fires occur only on the eastern side of the ranges, which is comparatively dry. In the Waiohine-iti Valley Deschampsia tenella, Agrostis alpina, Brachycome Sinclairii are common but are rare elsewhere. In the Park Valley Hypolepis millefolium is plentiful on valley slopes among tussock. On the valley floor Danthonia setacea setifolia, Blechnum penna-marina (the only record from Tararuas), Ranunculus acaulis are common. Gnaphalium trinerve is characteristic among the rocks along the river-bed. Of the grass species Danthonia antarctica (the variety of high ranges) is characteristic of both valley floors. It grows luxuriantly, reaching 100–150 cm. in height as compared with its usual stature of 20–30 cm. on the high wind-swept ridges.

In the Wairongomai River basin the lower warm temperate belt exhibits several odd features. The dominant tree here is Podocarpus spicatus, which is very rare or absent elsewhere. Amongst it, especially along the foot of the slopes, there are patches of Laurelia novaezealandiae. Knightia excelsa, Beilschmiedia tawa, Macropiper excelsa, Rhipogonum scandens, Leucopogon fasciculatus, Coprosma rhamnoides, C. rotundifolia and patches of Leptospermum ericoides and L. scoparium on young river flats are also common. Except for Podocarpus spicatus the general aspect of the vegetation here very strongly resembles that of the Northern Areas.

The occurrence of small but almost pure stands of Phyllocladus alpinus at about 700 m. on a ridge leading to Mount Ngapuketarua and on Renata are noteworthy, especially the latter, which is an entirely isolated colony. Similar stands of small trees of Dracophyllum Urvilleanum occur at about 800 m. on the ridges leading to Mount Ruapai and some of those to Mount Matthews.

On Mount Macintosh exists a very peculiar association of Schoenus pauciflorus and Olearia Colensoi, the latter being not more