248 Transactions. — Botany. 



Genus 24. Fossombronia, Raddi. 



1. F. rosulata, sp. nov. 



Plant very small, gregarious, creeping at roots, and forming 

 minute mounds, rising in little separate erect rosulate heads 

 very close together, 1^-2 lines high, and about the same in 

 diameter ; stem ; rootlets numerous, purple, matted. Leaves 

 compact, semi-orbicular, sessile, much waved and crumpled, sub- 

 papillose, margins entire, yellowish-green ; cells large, broadly- 

 oblong. Perianth very similar, but much smaller, margins 

 slightly and distantly crenate ; marginal cells minute, orbicular. 

 Fruit-stalk stout, erect, 5 lines long. Capsule globular, rather 

 large, reddish-brown, minutely reticulately veined, and sub- 

 papillose on the outside, bursting very irregularly. 



Hah. Among other Hepatica*. and mosses on damp, shaded, 

 clayey cuttings ; sides of highway, near the bridge over the 

 River Mangatawhainui, Seventy-mile Bush, County of Waipawa; 

 1880-85: W.C. 



Obs. A very minute plant, nearly allied to the other two 

 publisbed New Zealand species, F. pusilla, Nees, and F. intes- 

 tinalis, Tayl. ; and also, though more distinctly, to F. nigri- 

 caulis, mihi (infra). It has been long known to me in a barren 

 state, and although often sought in a fruitful one, has only 

 during the summer of 1884-85 been detected bearing fruit. 



2. F. nigricaulis, sp. nov. 



Plant procumbent, creeping, 1-1-| inches long, linear, obtuse, 

 largest specimens 3-4 lines broad at top, shortly branched, 

 branches and tips ascending. Stems stout, dark-brownish-black, 

 densely clothed below with tbickish dark-red roots. Leaves 

 pale-green, thin, sub-papillose, broadly oblong, somewhat sub- 

 quadrate at apices, much waved and crumpled, those below 

 a little apart and very decurrent on upper side of stem, giving it 

 a sub-pinnatifid appearance, those at tips crowded, margins 

 thin, entire ; cells large, oblong. Involucral similar but smaller, 

 extending (rosulate) around stem and base of fruit- stalk ; cells 

 very large. Fruit-stalk 4-6 lines long ; capsule globular, 

 reddish-brown, bursting irregularly ; sometimes two together, or 

 near each other on top of stem. 



Hab. Cliffy sides of road, near the Eiver Mangatawhainui, 

 Norsewood, County of Waipawa ; 1884-85 ; W.C. 



Genus 25. Noteroclada, Taylor. 



1. (?) N. lacunosa, sp. nov. 



Plant prostrate, appressed, spreading, branched ; rootlets 

 small, many, closely adhering to the soil ; branches 1-2 inches 

 long, 8-10 lines broad, pinnatifid, midrib stout but obscure sub- 

 succulent, brittle, glabrous ; colour a pleasing dark grass-green. 



