94 Transactions. 



Hub. — Xortli Island : Near Ahipara, li. H. MaUJieivs 1 and at Kaiaka, 

 H. Carse ! both localities in Mongonui County. In forest at Muriwai, and 

 near the mouth of the Waitakare River : T. F. C. Forest by the Waikanae 

 River, Wellington ; B. H. Morison ! 



Rhizome creeijing, much as in E. fniicronata. Stems numerous, 9-18 in. 

 long, suberect or drooping, smooth, compressed, rather broader and stouter 

 than in E. mucronata, and firmer. Leaves 3-6 in. long, i-^ in. broad, flat, 

 stift', erect, narrow-linear, acute or acuminate ; midrib and veins con- 

 spicuous on the under-surface, not so evident above. Panicle terminal, 

 2-5 in. long ; branches or racemes 3-7, rarely more, 1-1| in. long, 4-7- 

 flowered ; bracts short and broad, clasping, many-striate. Flowers larger 

 than in E. mucronata, | in. diam. or more. Sepals and petals similar in 

 size and shape, linear-oblong, subacute. Lip longer than in E. mucronata, 

 and brighter in colour ; lateral lobes wider and more acute. Column short, 

 stouter. 



I have been acquainted with this plant for several years, having 

 gathered specimens at the mouth of the Waitakare River as far back as 

 1895. But the differences between it and E. mucronata are mainly com- 

 parative, and before describing it I was anxious to satisfy myself as to how 

 far they were constant. Since then I have seen specimens gathered in 

 several localities between the North Cape peninsula and Wellington ; and 

 as I find that the distinguishing characters — viz., stouter and stiffer habit, 

 broader and more rigid leaves, larger flowers, longer lip with broader lateral 

 lobes, and stouter column — are constant throughout, I cannot any longer 

 refuse it distinction as a separate species. In addition to the above, there 

 is the important fact that it flowers from the beginning of Januar}^ to the 

 first week in February, whereas the flowering period of E. ynucronata is 

 two months earlier at least, stretching from the first week in October to 

 the middle or end of November. At Sluriwai, a few miles to the north of 

 the mouth of the Waitakare River, I observed it in full bloom on the 16th 

 January, 1916 ; while typical E. mucronata growing in the vicinity had 

 practically matured its capsules. 



4. Thelymitra aemula Cheesem. n. sp. 



Species ad T. ixioides proxime accedit, sed differt columnae lobis 

 lateralibus multo elongatis, et lobo mediano non cristato. 



Caules robusti vel graciles, 18-60 cm. longi. Folium auguste lineare, 

 crassum, canaliculatum. Folia caulina vel bracteae vacuae 2. Flores 

 3-8, caerulei, in racemum 4-10 cm. longum dispositi. Sepala et petala 

 oblonga vel ovato-oblonga, obtusa vel subacuta. Columna brevis, crassa, 

 superne attenuata, 5-loba ; lobis lateralibus elongatis, complanatis, penicil- 

 latis ; lobo mediano breve, dorso non cristato. 



Hah. — North Island : Leptospermum scrub at Birkdale, near Auckland ; 

 H. B. Matthews! 



Stems stout or slender, 6-16 in. high. Leaf shorter than the stem, 

 narrow-linear, thick, channelled in front. Cauline leaves or empty bracts 2, 

 short. Flowers 3-8, about \ in. in diameter, blue, rather closeh' placed in 

 a raceme 1^4 in. long. Sepals and petals oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse 

 or subacute. Column short, stout, broad at the base, narrowed above, 

 winged ; the wing extending behind the anther and free from it except 

 at the base, 5-lobed ; the two lateral lobes twice the length of the oth-ers, 

 flattened, fringed with cilia for the greater part of their length ; middle 

 lobe short and broad, thickened and denticulated at the tip, but smooth 



