500 Transactions. — Botany. 



In 1881 I discovered another species in the Canterbury 

 District, and recorded it under the name of L. biloculata in the 

 report of the School of Agriculture, Lincoln, 1884 (second 

 term). As will be seen from the appended description, it 

 differs in several important particulars from any other 

 species. 



Lejxilcena hilocularis, T. Kirk, in Eeport of Sch. of Agric, 



Lincoln, 1884. 



Stems much branched, capillary, 3in. — 12in. long. Leaves 

 fiat, slightly broader than the stem, linear, one-nerved, obtuse. 

 Male flowers enclosed in the dilated sheathing-bases of two 

 opposite floral leaves. Anther solitary, sessile, on a short 

 three-toothed peduncle, broad, connective produced, acute^ 

 the anther dehiscing from the apex. Eemale flower : perianth 

 of three lanceolate membranous bracts at the apex of a short 

 peduncle, carpels three, sessile, styles equalling or exceeding 

 the perianth, stigmas dilated ; reflexed, deeply fimbriate, 

 exserted. Achenes three, rarely two ; dorsal margin entire, 

 style more than half the length of the achene, usually 

 straight. 



South Island. — Canterbury — drains and streams running 

 into the Selwyn. In a small stream near the outlet of Lake 

 Ellesmere : T. Kirk. Otago — Waihola Lake : D. Petrie ! 



The leaf-bases enclosing the male flowers are developed 

 to a remarkable extent, the upper free portion on each side 

 of the leaf presenting a stipular appearance, and appears to 

 be composed of two (or perhaps three) membranous bracts 

 adnate with the bases of the floral leaves. The leaf-bases 

 investing the female flowers are much smaller. 



The plant exhibits a departure from the usual characters of 

 the genus — (1) In the large solitary anther which dehisces 

 from the apex downwards, the cells diverging laterally ; (2) in 

 the produced connective ; (3) in the reflexed and almost 

 laciniate stigmas, which are very conspicuous. 



Submerged aquatic plants have received little attention 

 from New Zealand botanists, although it can hardly be 

 doubted that other species will reward careful search. 



