Cheesbmak.— Conf776w^?'ons fo Knoivhdge of Flora of N.Z. 11 



spring. The ordinary f6rm of the sj)ecies, which is abundant in the same 

 Icoalit)^ when growing in good soil and plentifully supplied with moisture 

 has numerous branching stems, creeping below but ascending at the tips, 

 and has an average height of from 5 in. to 10 in. From that it passes 

 imperceptibly into much smaller states, in which the stems are unbranched, 

 the leaves linear and entire, and the flower-heads much smaller and solitary, 

 thus constituting the so-called variety. When seeds are abundantly pro- 

 duced, and the surrounding area is unoccupied, multitudes of seedlings 

 appear, so closely packed and so reduced in size as to resemble patches 

 of moss when seen from a little distance. The individual stems, in such 

 cases, are often not more than | in. in height, bearing 2 or 3 minute leaves, 

 and with a solitary flower 1 mm. in diameter. A patch of these seedlings, 

 measuring 2 in. by IJin., contained no fewer than 313 separate plants, the 

 tallest of which was under 1 in. in height. Another piece, cut out of a 

 patch some yards in extent, and measuring 1-| in. by 1 in., contained 213 

 separate plants. A yard square, if covered in a similar manner — and 

 several such instances were observed — would contain at least half a 

 million plants. 



Dracophyllum Townsoni Cheesem, 



3Ir. James Sjjeden, of Gore, sends me specimens of this, gathered at an 

 elevation of 3,000 ft. on The Hump, near Lake Hauroko. Mr. Speden 

 informs me that he frequently observed leaves over 2 ft. in length, thus 

 equalling those of D. latifolium and D. Traversii. None of the specimens 

 of D. Townsoni sent to me by its discoverer has leaves much over 12 in., 

 but Mr. Townson informs me that possibly small specimens were selected 

 for convenience of carriage. Mr. Speden's plant has the peculiar decurved 

 lateral panicle of D. Townsoni, but he saw no branched specimens. 



Solanum aviculare Forst. var. albiflora Cheesem. n. var. 



It has long been known that although this species ordinarily produces 

 purplish flowers, yet occasionally white-flowered specimens are seen ; but 

 no one seems to have observed that in such cases the colour of the stems 

 and of the veins of the leaves is also affected. As far back as 1880 I noticed 

 that in white-flowered sjDecimens observed by myself at Buckland the 

 aspect of the plant was somewhat different from that of the purple-flowered 

 variety ; and at various times since then the same thought has occurred to 

 me, but I failed to carry the inquiry any further. Early in 1915, however, 

 Mr. W. Townson observed that the white-flowered variety was by no means 

 rare near Pukekohe (Auckland District), and was induced to pay a little 

 attention to it. He ascertained that not even one single white flower is 

 ever produced on a purple-flowered plant. He also established the fact 

 that on a white-flowered plant the leaves are pale green, and much 

 thinner and more delicate in texture, so that the whole plant has a more 

 slender and graceful appearance ; and the stems and veins of the leaves 

 are pale-greenish or yellowish-green. On the other hand, the plants with 

 purple flowers have coarser leaves, and the veins of the leaves and the 

 stems are purplish or brownish-purple. 



Mr. James Graham, 'of Patumahoe, has also investigated the matter. 

 He informs me that, having noticed several plants Nyitli white flowers on 

 the earthworks of the Waiuku railway, he collected a number of seeds f.nd 

 had them sown in the Patumahoe School garden. About thirty plants 



