288 Transactions, Botany. 



Art. XL V.— A brief List of some British Plants (Weeds) lately 

 noticed, apparently of recent Introduction into this Part of 

 the Colony; with a few Notes thereon. 



By W. Colenso, F.L.S., etc. 



\Read before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, llth December, 1885.] 



In my travels or wanderings on foot during the last 2-3 years, 

 mostly in and about the Seventy-mile Bush and its neighbouring 

 localities, I have occasionally stumbled on a British plant that 

 I had never seen before in New Zealand, that is since I left 

 England, upwards of fifty years ago. On three occasions in 

 particular I was at first, and for some time after detecting the 

 plant, induced to believe that I had gained something additional 

 to our indigenous Flora; but on examination, etc., I found 

 out my mistake. I shall, however, only mention those few that 

 are of recent introduction, at least here in Hawke's Bay ; as 

 far too much, in my opinion, has been already often said and 

 repeatedly published respecting those British and Australian 

 weeds, which have long been established in New Zealand, some 

 of them even before it became a British colony ! otherwise I 

 might easily do as others have done before me : make out a long 

 and wearisome reiteration or useless catalogue of hard names. 



On the contrary (and as Sir J. D. Hooker in writing on this 

 subject has shown), an increase of knowledge, if not a real 

 benefit, is obtained, by noting the fact of the introduction or first 

 notice of any of our Home and foreign common weeds into the 

 colony. 



Raminculacea'. 



Ranunculus hirsutns, Curt. (Pale Hairy Crowfoot). Only 

 one plant, and that a very large one, quite a little erect bush of 

 above a foot high, containing very many flowers. (This is one 

 of the three plants already alluded to, that on first sight I sup- 

 posed to be indigenous, it had so much in common with our 

 larger New Zealand Ranunculi.) In an open sunny watercourse 

 near Norsewood ; 1884. 



Crudfera. 



Coronopus diclyma, Sm. (Wart Cress). A single plant only, 

 but a pretty large prostrate one. This plant is not generally 

 spread at Home, being confined to the south-west of England. 

 1 found this during the present summer (1885) at Napier. 



Camelina sativa, Crantz. (Gold-of-Pleasure). Of this also 

 I. only detected a single plant, and that a few years ago near 

 Napier ; it was of large size (for the species) and full of flowers 

 and fruit ; I have not observed it since. I gathered and dried 

 the whole of it. Its common English name seems wonderfully 

 misplaced. 



