T. Kirk. — On New Zealand Species of Gunnera. 341 



Forma rubra. Stems red, corolla white with longitudinal 

 red stripe. 



Hab. Antipodes Island : T. Kirk. 



The strict fastigiate habit of this plant and the lingulate 

 leaves readily distinguish it from any other New Zealand 

 species. Although the flowers are produced in great abund- 

 ance they are not easily detected at first sight, partly from 

 their being much obscured by the overtopping bracts, but 

 chiefly from the peculiar coloration, the form with red stems 

 developing white flowers vertically streaked with red, and the 

 form with yellow stems exhibiting delicate white flowers. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES XXVII.-XXVIIc. 

 Plate XXVII. 

 Gentiana lineata, T. Kirk. Natural size. 



Plate XXVIIa. 

 Gentiana spenceri, T. Kirk. Natural size. 



Plate XXVIIb. 

 Gentiana spenceri, T. Kirk. 



Fig. 1. Flower, enlarged. 

 Fig. 2. Capsule with bracts. 

 Fig. 3. Ovary, enlarged. 



Plate XXVI Ic. 

 Gentiana saxosa, Forster. Natural size. 



Fig. 1. Flower, enlarged. 



Art. XLI. — On the New Zealand Species of Gunnera, L. 



By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 28th November, 1894.'] 



Gunnera, which was constituted by Linnaeus in 1767, is, 

 perhaps, the most neglected genus of flowering plants in 

 New Zealand. The first species recorded as a native of 

 the colony was described by Eaoul in 1844, and beauti- 

 fully figured in " Choix de Plantes de la Nouvelle-Zelande " 

 in 1846. A second species, G. prorepens, was published 

 by Sir Joseph Hooker in the "Flora of New Zealand" 

 in 1853, and a third by the same author in his "Hand- 

 book of the New Zealand Flora" in 1864. No further addi- 

 tion was made to our knowledge of the local species until 



