KiEK. — On Australian Orchids in Neio Zealand. 425 



although it had for many years been known to him in the 

 locahty where it was seen by me, he had searched for it in 

 vain elsewhei'e. As the remaining specimens are few in 

 number, and appear to be dying of old age, it seems advisable 

 to publish this imperfect description in the hope that it may 

 lead to the discovery of the plant in some other district. 



Its nearest ally is C. rigida, Cheeseman, from which it 

 differs in the compact ascending branches, which never di- 

 varicate at right-angles ; in the larger and broader pubescent 

 leaves, and especially in the J flowers, which have a larger 

 calyx-limb which is never pubescent ; in the campanulate co- 

 rolla, and more robust style. In some respects it approaches 

 C. spathnlata, A. Cunn., but is readily distinguished from that 

 species by the much-branched habit and obovate or linear- 

 spathulate puberulous leaves. Its true affinities, however, 

 must remain in abeyance in the absence of the J flowers and 

 the fruit. 



Aet. XLIV. — Notice of tlie Occurrence of Australian Orchids 



in Neiv Zealand. 



By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 



[Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 24th February, 



1892.] 



Caleana minor, E. Brown. 



This remarkable plant was detected near Eotorua in 1890 

 by my friend the Eev. F. H. Spencer, who after protracted 

 search succeeded in obtaining four or five specimens, which he 

 generously presented to me. It is one of the most interesting 

 additions to the New Zealand flora that have been made 

 during recent years, and is, moreover, extremely rare outside 

 the colony, having been observed only in two localities in 

 New South Wales and another in Tasmania, occurring very 

 sparingly in all its habitats. It was originally described by 

 E. Brown in 1810. On account of the interest attending its 

 discovery here, and for the convenience of New Zealand 

 botanists, I append a somewhat detailed description. 



Eoot of two or three short fibres and two small oblong 

 tubers, which are irregularly narrowed towards their extremi- 

 ties. Stem and leaf glabrous, reddish ; the former almost fili- 

 form, 4in.-6in. high: the leaf extremely narrow-linear, flat, 

 from one-third to one-half the length of the stem. Flowers 

 1 to 3, on slender pedicels fin. long, with a small acute bract 

 at the base, inverted : sepals and petals almost equal, about 



