inches in breadth; a candelabra-like flowering stem six 
feet high, and flowers four inches in diameter ; and where 
it is further stated that it would be published by Baron 
Mueller and dedicated to Sir Hercules Robinson, K.C.M.G., 
Governor of New South Wales. Mr. Moore introduced the 
plant into the Sydney Botanical Gardens, where it flowered 
in December, 1871. The next accounts of its flowering 
are respectively in the Botanical Garden of Hakgala, in 
Ceylon, in 1885, under the management of Mr. Nock; 
in Mr. Dorrien Smith’s garden in the Scilly Islands, in 
1888, and in the Royal Gardens, Kew, in June, 1891. 
Morea Robinsoniana has, as will be seen by the citations 
under the description, been referred both to Moraa and to 
Iris, genera which differ but slightly in botanical cha- 
racters, but most markedly in geographical distribution. 
Fortunately our plant is a Morea, on both counts, for the 
perianth segments are sessile on the top of the ovary, and 
not united into a tube, as in vis, and whereas there are no 
species of Jris in the Southern hemisphere, Morea is almost 
confined to Africa and South of the Tropics, a few species 
only reaching Abyssinia. M. Robinsoniana is the only 
extra African species, and is one of the many proofs of 
affinity between the Australian and the Cape Floras. 
The native country of M. Robinsoniana igs an islet 
only six and a half miles long by three quarters of 
a mile in average width, lying between Australia and 
New Zealand, in Lat. 31° 8., Long. 158° E., about four 
hundred miles east of Port Macquarie. In its vege- 
tation the islet partakes of those of Australia, New 
Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, with a most remarkable 
predominance of endemic forms, especially of Palms, three 
species of which are peculiar to it. 
The plant figured was received at Kew from Mr. Chas. 
Moore, F.L.S., of the Sydney Botanical Gardens, in about 
18738, and flowered for the first time on June 20th, 1891, 
continuing to bloom till the beginning of the following 
October, and having had in the interval four hundred 
and fifty-seven flowers, all borne by three branches of — 
the panicle, and which remained open only one d ivi 
out a delicious odour.—J. D. H. Z Peete ° 
Fig. 1 and 2, stamens; 3, arm of style :— enlarged. 
