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worthless to the manufacturer, but the undressed leaf is split into narrow strips by the natives for fishing nets, which are said to last longer than those made from the ordinary swamp flax.[1] The wharaekie is occasionally to be seen planted in Maori cultivations, both in the Waikato and Thames districts; it is much more abundant in the Upper than in the Lower Waikato, its favourite habitat being the faces of moist banks and cliffs.
At the Tamahere narrows, Dracophyllum strictum attains its northern, limit, and from its numerous panicles of white flowers, forms an attractive object. At Cambridge, Microseris Forsteri was collected in abundance; Zoysia pungens, a low-growing grass usually confined to littoral situations, formed a dense sward in many places, and afforded a large amount of short succulent herbage, which was closely cropped by sheep and cattle; a few fragments of other grasses, apparently referable to the mairtime Glyceria stricta and Poa, sp., were collected here, but in too advanced a stage to admit of identification.
Art. XXV.—On the Occurrence of Littoral Plants in the Waikato District.
By T. Kirk.
[Read before the Auchland Institute, June 13, 1870.]
The frequent occurrence of several species of maritime plants in the Waikato District, far beyond the present range of tidal waters, appears to call for special remark from its important geological bearings. Dr. Hochstetter was, I believe, the first to advance the theory, "that the whole Middle Waikato basin was but recently a shallow arm of the sea or a far extending estuary." The accuracy of this opinion has however been impugned; it may therefore be advisable to recapitulate the maritime plants observed in and about the river and adjacent lakes and marshes.
Tetragonia expansa,—chiefly as a weed in native cultivations.
Apium filiforme,—woods by the Opuatia.
Selliera radicans, Cav.,—Waikare Lake. Has been found by the "Lower Waitaki River, Otago, apparently far from the sea."
Chenopodium glaucum, L., var. ambiguum,—on the shores of Whangape Lake.
Ruppia maritima, L.,—in Whangape, Waikare, and Waihi Lakes.
Leptocarpus simplex, A. Rich,—Waikare Lake. This occurs in a solitary locality in the North, a short distance only from the present reach of tidal water, and in small quantity.
Scirpus maritimus, L.,—from Waikato Heads to a few miles above Hamilton; abundant in all the lakes and marshes; also in the Waipa.
Zoysia pungens, Willd.,—Cambridge, abundant.
- ↑ The above is written from personal observation of this plant in the North only. It is said to produce a fibre of high quality in the South Island.
