518 Transactions. — Botany. 



of crowded linecar ciliated bracts, which slightly exceed the 

 calyx. Calyx cleft to the base, lobes 4, linear, obtuse, ciliated, 

 exceeding the corolla-tube ; limb much shorter than the tube, 

 lobes spreading or reflexed, the lower acute, the uppermost 

 rounded ; stamens 2, included ; style long, slender. Capsule 

 oblong, slightly turgid, seated in a cupular disk. Mitrasacme 

 petriei, J. Buchanan, in Trans. N.Z. Inst., xiv. (1881), 350, 



t. XXX., f. ] . 



South Island : Otago — Mount Bonpland, D. Petrie I 

 6,000ft. 



Tiie densely-crowded linear bracts easily distinguish this 

 fine plant from all other New Zealand species. It is, perhaps, 

 the most remarkable of the many plants added to the Otago 

 flora by its energetic discoverer, to whom I am indebted for 

 the only specimen I possess. The stems are really perfoliate. 



V. Imlkeana, F. Muell., ex Hook, f., Handbk., 213. 



Bracts oblong, obtuse, shorter than the tubular calyx"; 

 corolla - lobes subacute. Capsule retuse and turgid when 

 mature. 



Sea-level to 3,000ft. 



Var. oblonga. 



Leaves narrow-oblong, fully Sin. long including the petiole, 

 coarsely toothed. 



South Island : Marlborough — Awatere ; T. Kirk. 



Var. fairfieldii, sp.. Hook, f., Bot. Mag., t. 7323. 



Flowers larger and more deeply coloured than in the type, 

 panicle usually shorter and broader. Bracts glandular-pu- 

 bescent, equalling or shorter than the spreading calyx, acute ; 

 calyx-lobes acute or subacute with scarious margins ; lobes of 

 corolla rounded at the apex. 



South Island : Fairfield Downs. 



The typical form was originally discovered by the Hon. F. 

 Weld. 



V. macrantlia, Hook, f., Handbk., 213. 



Sparingly branched, 1ft. -2ft. high. Leaves varying from 

 oblong-ovate to obovate-lanceolate, thick and glossy. Calyx 

 broadly ovate, acute, equalhng or slightly exceeding the 

 sepals. Corolla pure white. 



South Island : Mountains of Nelson, Canterbury, and 

 North Otago, but often local ; 2,500ft.-4,000ft. 



V. haastii, Hook, f., Handbk., 213. 



Leaves imbricating, patent or deilexed, fleshy when fresh, 

 very coriaceous v»dien dry. Flowers in 2-6-flowered fascicles 

 at the tips of the branches, forming an oblong head, much 



