L. Cockayne. — Notes on New Zealand Floristic Botany. 163 



It may well be argued that the trend of botanical taxonomy the world 

 over is to bestow specific names on the varieties, thus breaking up the long- 

 recognized aggregates into so-called " valid species." Certainly such groups 

 distinguished by binomials are convenient for the ecologist working at 

 synecology, but they are of far less use to the autecologist, the floristic 

 phytogeographer, or the student of evolution or genetics than are aggre- 

 gates with their varieties distinguished by trinomials. Once cease to empha- 

 size the genetic aspect of taxonomy, away goes its philosophy — indeed, it 

 ceases to be a science ! 



To apply the principles enumerated above is far from easy ; they pro- 

 bably represent ideals impossible of full attainment. Research is demanded 

 in many directions ; above all, living material is essential — field observa- 

 tions as accurate as possible must be made, and experiments in the garden 

 must finally decide those doubtful points impossible to be solved either in 

 the field or the herbarium. 



With regard to the species, &c, dealt with in the present paper I have 

 received valuable assistance from various sources without which the work 

 could not have been carried on. I must especially thank Mr. H. H. Allan, 

 M.A., F.L.S. (Ashburton) ; Mr. B. C. Aston, F.I.C. (Wellington) ; Mr. H. 

 Carse (Kaiaka) ; Mr. C. E. Christensen (Hanmer) ; Miss E. M. Herriott, 

 M.A. (Christchurch); the Rev. J. E. Holloway, D.Sc. (Hokitika) ; Mr. 

 R. M. Laing, M.A.. B.Sc. (Christchurch) ; Messrs. Nairn and Son (Christ- 

 church) ; Mr. D. Petrie, M.A. (Auckland) ; Mr. R. H. Rockel, M.A. (New 

 Plymouth) ; Professor A. Wall, M.A. (Christchurch) ; and Mr. J. Young 

 (Christchurch) — all of whom have given me much-valued aid both in 

 material and information. I must also acknowledge the kindness of Pro- 

 fessor H. B. Kirk, M.A. (Wellington), who has afforded me every facility 

 for using the herbarium of the late Mr. T. Kirk, F.L S. ; of Dr. J. A. 

 Thomson for similar privileges with regard to Colenso's herbarium in the 

 Dominion Museum ; and of Mr. A. Turnbull, F.L.S., who has allowed me 

 to consult his splendid library of Australasian and Pacific literature. 



As far as possible I have deposited in the herbarium of the Canterbury 

 Museum, Christchurch, type specimens of all the species, &c, dealt with in 

 this series of papers. 



II. Taxonomic. 



25.* Carmichaelia Fieldii Cockayne sp. nov. 



Frutex parvus, glaber, afoliatus nisi juventute, prostratus. Rami usque 

 ad 40 cm. longi sed saepe multo breviores, 2 mm. lati, arcuati, compressi, 

 striati, pauciramosi, cortice luteo-viride obtecti. Racemi brevissimi, nun- 

 quam fasciculati, 2-5 flori ; pedicelli + 3 mm. longi, glabri. Flores non 

 visi. Legumen 3-4 mm. longum, oblique-ovoideum vel -oblongum, quam 

 maxime turgidum, subrugosum, nigrum ; rostrum basi crassum, curvatum, 

 apiculatum. Semina 2-5 (plerumque 3-4), pallide brunnea. 



South Island : North-western Botanical District — Growing as a small 

 colony on a wind-swept sandstone ledge on a small island rising, at low 

 water, out of the mud-flat of Westhaven (West Wanganui). W. H. Field 

 and B.C. Aston ! 



The above description is drawn up from insufficient material. In 

 many cases the capsules were much damaged. 



Carmichaelia Fieldii appears to come nearest in affinity to C. juncea 

 Col., but it differs in its prostrate habit, broader always more or less 



* The numbers follow on consecutively in this series of papers. 



