adventive plant communities. A number of other plants—e.g., Rochea, have persisted in adjacent gardens but have shown no tendency to persist outside of cultivation. The communities are now, in effect, living relics of horticultural subjects fashionable with earlier generations of gardeners.

(a) Redcliffs-Sumner, Canterbury

Gentler slopes show a shrub layer of Cytisus, proliferus L. (Canary Islands) and Sarothamnus scoparius (L.) Wimmer (Europe), with occasional shrubs of Albizia, lopantha (Willd.) Benth. (Western Australia), Cytisus monspessulanus L. (Southern Europe) and C. stenopetalus Christ. (Madeira), a marginal sub-shrubby element of Chrysanthemum anethifolium Brouss. (Canary Islands), C. frutescens L. (Canary Islands) and ^*Pelargonium aff. inquinans (L.) Ait. (South Africa). The lowest stratum includes Cheiranthus cheirn L. (Europe), Tetragonia trigyna B. & S. ex Hook f. (indigenous) and †^†Aptenia cordifolia (Linn. f.) N.E. Br. (South Africa).

More exposed and steeper slopes have scattered plants and colonies of Chrysanthemum anethifolium, C. frutescens, ‡^‡Echium fastuosum Jacq. (Canary Islands), Osteospermum moniliferum L. (South Africa) and Pelargonium aff. inquinans, with a scrambling element of Lathyrus aff. tingitanus L., Muehlenbeckia complexa (A. Cunn.) Meissn. (indigenous), †Pelargonium peltatum (L.) Ait. (South Africa), Senecio angulatus L. (South Africa), S. mikanioides Otto (South Africa), and Tropaeolum majus L. (South America). The succulent element is represented by †Aeonium arboreum (L.) Webb et Benth. (Canary Islands), †A. ciliatum (Willd.) Webb et Benth. (Canary Islands), Aptenia cordifolia, §^§Cotyledon orbiculata L. (South Africa), †Drosanthemum floribundum (Haw) Schwant. (South Africa), Mesembryanthemum sp., †Othonna capensis Bailey (South Africa), †Sedum album L. (Europe), †S. praealtum DC. (Mexico) and †S. reflexum L. (Europe).

The steep to perpendicular, often overhanging cliffs, with vegetation confined to “pockets”, shelves, fissures, and the prominent basal debris deposit, carries occasional shrubs of Cytisus stenopetalus, Echium fastuosum, Lycium ferocissimum Miers (South Africa), Osteospermum moniliferum, and Sarothamnus scoparius, with a scrambling element of Muehlenbeckia complexa, Pelargonium aff. inquinans, and Senecio cineraria DC. (Western Mediterranean region), and occasional colonies of Gazania sp. This particular habitat is dominated by extensive colonies of succulents, which include Aeonium arboreum, A. ciliatum, Aptenia cordifolia, Carpobrotus edulis, Cotyledon orbiculata, †Crassula tetragona L. (South Africa), Disphyma australe (Sol.) J. M. Black (indigenous), Mesembryanthemum sp., Sedum album, S. praealtum, S. reflexum, and †Sempervivum sp.

A seepage fissure on one steep face bears Apium prostratum Labill. (indigenous), Juncus maritimus Lam. var. australiensis Buchen. (indigenous), Scirpus nodosus Rottb. (indigenous), and Sonchus sp.

(b) Lyttelton Harbour Locality, Canterbury

The vegetation of these cliffs with a southerly or shady aspect differs markedly from that at Redcliffs-Sumner, although only several miles distant. While several species are common to both localities, the succulent element is virtually absent, and a number of different species occur.

The shrubby element is represented by Cytisus monspessulanus, C. proliferus, Echium fastuosum, Lavatera assurgentiflora Kellogg (California), Lycium ferocissimum, Sarothamnus scoparius, and Ulex europaeus L. (Europe), with a sub-shrubby element of Chrysanthemum anethifolium and C. frutescens. Three succulents only occur—Disphyma australe, Mesembryanthemum sp., and Sedum praealtum—and the herbaceous species present include Agapanthus orientalis Leighton (South Africa), Cheiranthus cheirii, Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (South Europe), Kentranthus ruber (L.) DC. (Europe), and Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Airey-Shaw (South Europe).

(c) Timaru Locality, Canterbury

Although on a southerly aspect as at Lyttelton, the plant communities are dominated by colonies of several of the species of succulents present.

At the south end of the harbour the low cliffs are covered with extensive colonies of Carpobrotus edulis, Hedera helix L. (Eurasia), and Mesembryanthemum sp., with Clematis vitalba L. (Eurasia) growing in some of the Hedera colonies. Scattered shrubs of Cytisus monspessulanus and Sarothamnus scoparius occur, and plants of Pelargonium aff. inquinans are scattered through the Hedera colonies, but are absent from the Carpobrotus and Mesembryanthemum colonies. Antirrhinum majus L. (Mediterranean region) occurs on bare places and through the colonies of Mesembryanthemum.

The cliffs at the north end of the harbour show a smaller range of species, again with extensive colonies of Carpobrotus edule, Hedera helix, Mesembryanthemum sp., with scattered plants and smaller colonies of Pelargonium aff. inquinans and Sedum praealtum.

(d) Oamaru Locality, Otago

These cliffs have a sunny aspect, are composed of a flaking and eroding loess-like material, and are dissected by vertical fissures or gullies, these usually moist on the bottoms owing to seepage.

The shrubby element is well represented and prominent—Lavatera arborea L. (Europe), which occurs as scattered plants and occasional groves, L. assurgentiflora, forming short stunted bushy shrubs on the exposed faces and more abundant in its taller, more open form in the moist gullies amongst Lycium ferocissimum; this species is found as scattered bushes or small colonies on the exposed faces, with tall dense, virtually impenetrable colonies in the gullies.

The succulent element includes Aptenia cordifolia, which under Lavatera in the moist gullies occurs in the normal green trailing form, while on the exposed faces lacking other cover it occurs as a distinct tufted, erect (to 12 cm tall) form with reddish-yellow or yellowish-green leaves with reddish blotches—seedlings are abundant. Also found are Carpobrotus edulis, Disphyma australe, Mesembryanthemum sp., which form extensive mat-like colonies, and Sedum acre L. (Eurasia).

Other species present include Bromus sp. (Healy, 1958): Geranium pilosum Forst. (indigenous), Medicago lupulina L. (Eurasia) with prostrate, much-branched plants scattered over the entire face, Poa caespitosa Forst. F. (indigenous), and Rhagodia nutans R.Br. (The exact status of this plant is doubtful, and while it falls within R. nutans R.Br., it is a markedly different plant from that which occurs in the North Island and north of the South Island. It agrees well with an Australian form of this species, and may possibly be introduced from Australia. It occurs coastally from Oamaru to just south of Kakanui). Small prostrate plants of this latter species occur on the exposed faces but where it is associated with Lavatera or Lycium it assumes a scrambling habit, and in the moist gullies it scrambles to the tops of the shrubs, with stems finger-thick, and 3 to 4 metres in length.

It can be noted that Echium fastuosum was cultivated in gardens adjacent to the cliffs, but there was no evidence (August, 1954) of the species escaping from cultivation.

(e) Port Chalmers Locality, Otago

The cliffs are of medium steepness, shattered and fissured, and here, 180 miles further south than Christchurch, several of the same species of succulents occur in extensive colonies.

Shrubs are represented by Albizia lopantha, in a grove-like colony near the summit at the north end, and scattered shrubs of Cytisus monspessulanus, C. proliferus, and C. stenopetalus. Lavatera arborea forms dense thickets towards the summit adjacent to gardens with scattered plants elsewhere, while its congener L. assurgentiflora is less common and not yet thoroughly established. Lycium ferocissimum is scattered over the face, as is Pelargonium aff. inquinans, which is usually associated with individuals or colonies of the shrubby species. Ulex europaeus occurs sparingly over the face.

Climbers and scramblers are well represented—Hedera helix is abundant, forming extensive colonies on rock faces, Lathyrus tingitanus L. (Mediterranean region) and L. aff. tingitanus are common on debris along the lower parts of the cliffs, while Pelargonium peltatum is uncommon, and Tropaeolum majus occurs in scattered colonies.

The succulent species present are Aeonium arboreum as scattered plants, Disphyma australe as small scattered mat-like colonies, Carpobrotus edulis with large colonies, and Mesembryanthemum sp. the most abundant species. Sedum praealtum forms extensive yellowish-green to light-green colonies over the whole area, the colonies many square metres in extent, up to a metre tall and very dense.

Other plants present include Agapanthus orientalis with clumps scattered across the north end of the face, Cheiranthus cheiri common throughout, Chrysanthemum anethifolium and C. frutescens scattered over face, and Vinca major L. (Europe) in fissures and on rubble, forming extensive colonies.

A small adjacent cliff in the same locality but with a southerly aspect showed a markedly different flora. Shrubs present were Coprosma spp. (indigenous), Cotoneaster simonsii Baker (India), Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (Europe) and Lycium ferocissimum. The scrambling element was represented by Angelica geniculata (Forst. f.) Hook. f. (indigenous), Muehlenbeckia complexa and Senecto mikanioides.

(f) Anderson's Bay, Dunedin, Otago

These cliffs are lower than at Port Chalmers, with a sloping portion above, and a sheer face below cut with deep moist fissures and occasional pockets or shelves.

Shrubs are not important, and are represented by Cytisus stenopetalus with a few old plants and a number of young plants along the sloping upper portion. Echium fastuosum is scattered and apparently in process of establishing, Lavatera arborea occurs in colonies and as scattered plants, L. assurgentiflora is rare, and Pelargonium aff. inquinans is scattered on the upper sloping area in the vicinity of shrubs.

Succulent plants occupied the greater part of the colonized area; Aeonium arboreum was occasional and apparently spreading, Carpobrotus edulis formed large mat-like colonies which hung down over the steep faces, Mesembryanthemum sp. with scattered colonies, Tetragonia trigyna established in fissures, Sedum praealtum in scattered colonies, and S. reflexum established in fissures and rock shelves.

Other plants noted were Agapanthus orientalis in scattered clumps, Cheiranthus cheiri, Chrysanthemum sp., Myosotis sylvatica Ehrh. (Europe) in the fissures under