100 Transactions. — Botany. 



Obs. This species of Mulilenbeckia presents a peculiar 

 appearance, from its stout almost gnarled branches, few pale- 

 green leaves, and numerous short lateral branchlets tipped 

 with flowers, whose pedicels are also white. It is allied to M. 

 complcxa, Meisn., and to M. microphyUa, Col., but is widely 

 different from both. 



3. M. trilobata, sp. nov. 



Plant decumbent, nmch branched and implexed, rising 

 twining and climbing over low shrubs and herbage. Branches 

 long, striate, densely pubescent ; hairs short, patent, red-brown. 

 Fe7]i. : leaves alternate, distant, membranaceous, glabrous, 

 green, lin.-2in. apart, broadly ovate (in outline), fin.-l^in. 

 long, fin.-lin. wide, wavy, sub-panduriform, deeply trilobed, 

 largely cordate ; lobes much rounded, apical lobe large, sub- 

 sagittate ; tip suddenly acute and sub-apiculate ; sinuses 

 broad ; margins red, sub-entire, irregular ; midrib prominent 

 on the under surface, pubescent on the upper ; veined ; veins 

 very closely and compoundly reticulate, having copious areolae 

 between them with free veinlets, but somewhat obsolete when 

 fresh. Petioles ^in.— |in., sub-terete, channelled above, soft, 

 pubescent; cauline stipules (ochrece) large, truncate, nerved, 

 pubescent on nerves. Flowers irregularly disposed, usually 

 in axillary racemes 2 together; racemes rather slender, 

 nodding, 2in.-2-|in. long (sometimes panicled with 3 basal 

 branches from 1 peduncle, and sometimes in a large loose 

 panicle 5in.-6in. long, distantly and gracefully branched in 

 8-12 racemes), vaginant ; vagina rather large, very mem- 

 branous, sub-pellucid, cup-shaped, margin laciniate ; the 

 flowers sub-fascicled 2-4 from each vagina, largely exserted, 

 close-set but not crowded ; pedicels jointed, capillary, 2 lines 

 long. Perianths pale - green (sometimes, but rarely, with 

 bright-red bases), 2 lines diameter, membranous, free from 

 ovary, glabrous ; lobes shorter than nut, broadly spathulate, 

 not cut to base ; sinuses broad ; tips rounded. Stigmas 3, 

 sub - clavate - orbicular, papillose, spreading ; anthers very 

 minute, abortive. Nut black, shining, broadly elliptic, 2 lines 

 long, triquetrous, one side broader and flat, free from perianth. 

 Male (also, sometimes, hermaphrodite) : leaves much smaller. 

 Eacemes axillary and terminal, slender, simple, lin.-2in. long; 

 floral bracts distant ; 4-5 flowers in 1 sheath ; perianth mem- 

 branous, greenish-white, sub-campanulate ; tube longer than 

 lobes, free; stamens longer than perianth (and nut), flexuous, 

 spreading ; anthers exserted, orbicular, emarginate and cor- 

 date, didymous, red. Nut sometimes as in female. 



Hab. In woods south of Dannevirke, County of Waipawa ; 

 1888 : W. C. 



Obs. This is a pleasing, handsome, and striking species, 



