446 Transactions. — Botany. 



This differs from the typical form in the more densely 

 matted habit, the longer calyx, in the peduncles being absent, 

 or never elongated even in fruit, and in having the compressed 

 fruits produced into curved lateral filiform processes. The 

 flowers are of a delicate fawn colour. 



The typical form occurs in Tasmania and Victoria. 



EXPLANATION OP PLATE XXXII. 



Mitrasacme niontana, Hook, f., var. helmsii. 



Fig. 1. Flowering specimen, natural size. 



Fig. 2. Leaves, enlarged. 



Fig. 3. Flower, enlarged. 



Fig. 4. Calyx, enlarged. 



Fig. 5. Corolla, enlarged. 



Fig. G. Corolla laid open to show the stamens, enlarged. 



Fig. 7. Pistil, enlarged. 



Pig. 8. Fruit, natural size. 



Pig. 9. „ enlarged. 



Art. LV. — Descriidion of a Neiv Species of Cheuopodium — 



C. buchanani. 



By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 12th Jum, 1889.'] 



Plate XXXII. 



This remarkable plant was discovered so far back as 1868 by 

 Mr. J. Buchanan in Port Nicholson, where it is restricted to 

 a single habitat. In the absence of female flowers it was 

 doubtfully referred to G. triandrum, Forster, and subsequently 

 to C. 'pusillum., Hook. f. About eight or nine years ago I re- 

 ceived specimens of the same plant from Mr. D. Petrie, who 

 collected them on the Maniototo Plains ; subsequently I had 

 the good fortune to discover the plant in two other localities : 

 but until recently the female flowers remained undetected. 

 It is usually restricted to a very limited area in each locality, 

 and occurs in situations where it is exposed to the influence 

 of the sea-spray ; but to both these peculiarities there is a 

 notable exception, which requires special mention. On the 

 Maniototo Plains I found it growing at a distance of eighty 

 miles from the sea and an elevation of 1,800ft., extending in 

 vast profusion for many miles, although with occasional breaks, 

 its habitat being a whitish clay strongly impregnated with 

 saline matter. Wherever this bed is exposed the Chenopodium 

 is'abundant, associated with other plants usually restricted to 

 littoral situations. 



