FLORA VITIENSIS. 313 
anno 1775), Isle of Pines (M‘Gillivray !), Tongan Islands (D. Nelson!), New Zealand (Banks and 
Solander !), and Norfolk Island. 
IV. Astelia, Banks et Soland.; Endl. Gen. n. 1051. Flores abortu polygamo-dioici. Peri- 
gonium 6-partitum, semiglumaceum, persistens. Stamina 6, imo perigonio inserta. Ovarium 3- 
loculare v. dissepimentis incompletis 1-loculare, placentibus parietalibus 3. Ovula oc. Stylus 0; 
stigmata 3, obtusa. Bacca 1-3-locularis, oo-sperma.—Herb: habitu fere Tillandsie, et swpius 
pariter in arborum truncis vivis v. emortuis pseudo-parasiticee ; radice fibrosa, foliis radicalibus imbri- 
catis, lanceolato-linearibus v. ensiformibus, carinatis v. ecarinatis, seepius utrinque v. subtus adpresse 
villosis, basi sericeo-lanatis, caule 0 v. brevi planifolio, floribus racemosis v. paniculatis, rariusve sub- 
solitariis, pedicellis haud artieulatis, unibracteatis, floribus extus sericeis.—Hamelinia, A. Rich. Fl. 
N. Zeal. p. 158. t. 24. Funkia, Willd. in Berl. Mag. vol. ii. p. 19. Melanthium, Forst. in Comm. 
Gott. vol. ix. p. 30. t. 6. 
This genus is represented in New Zealand and Australia by several species, and in the Hawaiian 
Islands by 4. Menziesiana, Smith, collected by Menzies, and by <A. veratroides, Gaud., collected by D. 
Nelson and Macrae. 
l. A. montana, (sp. nov.) Seem. (Tab. XCV.); caule sericeo-lanato; foliis e basi ovato 
elongato-linearibus, 3-nerviis, margine recurvis, supra glabris lucidis, subtus ad nervos marginesque 
villosis; floribus racemoso-paniculatis, perigon. foliolis linearibus; antheris ovatis acuminatis; baccis 
ovatis 3-locularibus.—Nomen vernac. Vitiense, * Misi."—Summit of Buke Levu Mountain, Island 
of Kadavu, on trees (Seemann! n. 641). 
Stem eovered with white silky wool. Leaves from 2-3 feet long, and 13-2 inches broad, with three 
primary veins, glabrous with the exception of the margin and veins. Panicle supported at base by large 
leaf-like bracts, cordate at base. Flowers qoe Ovary 3-celled. 
The leaves are arranged like those of many epiphytical Bromeliacee, and acting as a kind of rain 
gauge, the centre of the plant is always filled with water, which, on our ascent of Buke Levu, we found 
sufficiently fresh to make tea with, as described in my * Viti,’ p. 214. 
EXPLANATION oF Prare XCV., representing Astelia montana, Seem.—Portion of the entire plant; 
panicle; 3, flower; 4, stamens; 5, berry; 6, seed :— Figs. 8-6 magnified. 
Orpo CI. COMMELYNACEZE. 
I. Commelyna, Dill. Hort. Elth. p. 93; Endl. Gen. n. 1028, ex parte. Perigonii exterioris 
foliola 3, extus calycina, persistentia; interiora 3 v. 2, petaloidea, unguiculata, decidua, tertio seepius 
dissimili v. abortivo. Stamina 6 v. pauciora, 3 fertilia ; filamenta glabra, in eonnectivum reniforme 
dilatata; anthere loculis divaricatis, connectivum marginantibus, 3 (v. 2—4), dissimiles, cassæ 
Ovarium 3-loculare, loculis pauciovulatis. Stylus filiformis, simplex; stigma indivisum. Capsula 
3-locularis, loculicido-3-valvis, valvis medio septiferis, loculis lateralibus 2-ovulatis, dorsali 1-ovulato. 
Semina subquadrata.—Herbe diffuse v. erectm, foliis ovatis v. lanceolatis; floribus fasciculatis 
involucratis v. nudis vage paniculatis. 
1. C. Pacifica, Vahl, Enum. vol. ii. p. 168; caulibus repentibus, glabris; foliis breviter 
petiolatis, oblongis, subovato-oblongis et oblongo-lanceolatis, superioribus sessilibus, supra margine- 
que scabriusculis, subtus glabris; vaginis antice oreque ciliatis; spathis oppositifoliis, cordato-ovatis, 
acuminatis, complicatis, glabris, plerumque ciliolatis; pedunculis in spatha geminis, 3—4-floris ; 
exserto, glabro v. hirtello; floribus polygamis; sepalo exteriore impari subsessili, subrotundo-ovato. 
