388 Transactions. — Botany. 



seasons too ; but never found it bearing either flower or fruit, 

 in spite of all my researches. 



II. This species is allied (though not very closely, judging 

 from its leaves and branches) to M. scandens, Banks and Sol. ; 

 but that species has larger thick recurved sessile dark-green 

 leaves, pubescent when young, glandular only on their lower 

 surface, and tomentose branches. 



Order XXXVIII. Eubiace^. 

 Genus 1. Coprosma, Forst. 

 1. C. alba, sp. nov. 



A much-branched thick bushy glabrous shrub, 10ft.-12ft. 

 high ; bark pale-brown, dull, roughish ; branches largely 

 spreading subhorizontal ; branchlets numerous, close, opposite, 

 flattish. Leaves small rather distant, sometimes two together, 

 narrow linear-oblong very obtuse, sub iin. long and 1 line 

 wide, slightly curved, dark-green, margins coloured purple-red, 

 much but obscurely net-veined ; petioles short ; stipules 

 small, acute, glabrous, black-tipped. Flowers : viale, axil- 

 lary (often opposite on branches) , and terminal on tips of short 

 lateral branchlets, fascicled in threes; peduncle short, stout, 

 curved, with a broad hemispherical scale at base of flowers. 

 Calyx small, lobes deltoid-acute, dark-coloured. Corolla, 

 glabrous, whitish, purple-striped and purple-dotted on both 

 surfaces, membranous, subpellucid, 4-5-6-lobed, cleft two- 

 thirds down, much expanding, revolute ; lobes subovate, tips 

 suddenly contracted apiculate, minutely pulverulent within. 

 Stamens 4-5, largely exserted, reddish ; anthers largo, oblong, 

 obtuse, nodding, at first yellow afterwards of a greenish hue, 

 their valve-margins delicately serrulate, the connective large 

 thick minutely pitted with the tip slightly crested : female,. 

 solitary, scattered, at tips of very short lateral branchlets, 

 mostly between two leaves. Calyx very small, 4-lobed ; lobes 

 acute, appressed, irregular 2 linear and 2 subovate. Corolla 

 small, tubular, broadest at top; lobes 3-4, cleft half-way 

 down, obtuse, conniving. Styles 2 (sometimes 3), 3 lines- 

 long, obtuse, pubescent, pinkish, diverging. Fruit globose, 

 2 lines long, crowned with persistent calyx-limb, white with 

 minute purple dots, shining. Seeds 2, large, white, 2 lines 

 long, broadly elliptic, slightly convex flattish, finely and closely 

 laterally corrugated on the flat side. 



Hah. On the eastern banks of the Eiver Manawatu, near 

 the new bridge, road from Dannevirke to Wainui, County of 

 Waipawa, forming thickets ; 1891 : W. C. 



Obs. This is a very distinct species : the male plant has a- 

 neat and even elegant aj^pearance when in flower from their 

 profusion ; and so also the female when in ripe white fruit,. 



