420 Transactions. — Botany. 



Abrotanella, Cassini. 

 1 A linearis, Berggren, Physiograph. Saltskaps, Mineskrift 

 ■ Lund, 1878. p. U, t. 3, f. 28-38. _ 



\ tufted scapigerous herb, rarely exceeding 2m. m height. 

 Leaves radical, spreading, equalhng or slightly exceeding the 

 scapes, lin.-Uin. long, linear, obtuse or apiculate, with sheath- 

 ing base's which are slightly hairy. Scapes im.-lim high, 

 wi'th 1 or 2 or several linear obtuse bracts. Head solitary : 

 involucral scales 8-12, subacute, obscurely 3-nerved; ovary ot 

 ray-florets 4-angled ; achenes clavate with 4 ribs 



Hab South Island : Mountains of Nelson, W estlancl, Can- 

 terbury, and Otago, but often local ; 2,000ft.-3,000ft. Stewart 

 Island ; sea-level to 2,000ft. _ i ^i v • 



Diminutive specimens are sometimes less than t^i^- ^^^ 

 height • on the other hand the leaves occasionally exceed 2iu. 

 in length and the rootstock is sometimes largely developed, 

 the deleaving bases of the old leaves being more or less per- 

 sistent The lateral nerves of the involucral leaves are some- 

 times very faint, and disappear in drying, while the median 

 nerve becomes more prominent. 



2 A. csespitosa, D. Petrie, MS. 



Tufted Stems fin.-iin. high. Eadical leaves recurved, 

 Ain long, linear, obtuse, concave above with a scarious 

 margin when young, coriaceous. Scapes naked or with 1 or 2 

 shoit bracts. HeadsoHtary: involucral scales / or 8 ,3-nerved, 

 with broad scarious margins, broadly rounded at the apices, 

 often erose. Plorets about 6. Corollas not seen. Achenes 

 (immature) ovoid, compressed, with broad margins. 

 ^ Hah. South Island: Otago, Mount iKyehmn D Fctne ! 

 A curious little plant, with the leaves of A. spathulata, and 

 the solitary head of A. linearis, but smaller m all its parts 

 than either. The achenes appear to differ widely from both , 

 they are not at all tetragonous. Better specimens must be 

 obtained before a good description can be drawn. 



3. A. spathulata, Hook. f. Handbk. N.Z ^\^f ^ri- 

 neuron spathulatum, Hook, f., M. Antarct., i., 23, t. 1/. 

 Tufted- lin.-3in. high. Leaves rather close-set, spread- 

 incr lin.-iin. long, coriaceous, obtuse or acute. Scapes 

 sparingly leafy or with 1, 2, or more leafy bracts near the 

 auex Heads pedunculate, crowded near the top of the scape. 

 Involucral scales 8-10, oblong, with 3 translucent nerves. 

 Florets 8-12 ; those of the disc with short patent _ teetli. 

 Achenes ovoid compressed with 3 cellular ribs, abortive ; or 

 tetragonous compressed with 4 ribs, perfect , i, To 



Hab. Auckland Islands ; 1,000ft. -2, 000ft. Campbell Is- 

 land; 500ft. -800ft. 



