T. Kirk. — On Netv Zealand Species of Gunnera. 347 



pedicels; perianth segments 2, linear-oblong-spathulate, cucul- 

 late, tips ciliate ; anthers sessile, broad, slightly mucronate, 

 ovary abortive. Female not seen. Drupes of two forms : in 

 the early spring state narrow-ovoid on short pedicels forming 

 short compact heads about Jin. long, wholly hidden by the 

 leaves; later, clavate, pendulous, forming lax erect racemes 

 lin.-3in. high. 



Hab. South Island : On blown sand, Cape Farewell, Nelson ; 

 T. Kirk. Seventy-mile Beach, Canterbury ; J. Buchanan ! 

 Always littoral. I suspect that the inland plant from the 

 Acheron and Clarence referred to this species in the Hand- 

 book belongs to G. dentata. 



The dimorphism exhibited by the fruiting state is very 

 remarkable, and may possibly be due to the plant being par- 

 tially covered with a deposit of blown sand before the early 

 fruit is fully formed. 



Var. depressa. 



Leaves shorter and broader than in the type, often sub- 

 orbicular ; scapes shorter than the leaves ; drupes smaller, 

 clavate when fully ripe. Flowers not seen. 



Hab. Southland ; T. Waugh ! 



7. G. hamiltonii, T. Kirk, MSS. W. S. Hamilton, in Trans. 



N.Z. Inst., xvii. (1884), 292 (name only). 



Khizome as thick as a goose-quill, tufted. Leaves forming 

 dense rosettes 2in.-4in. in diameter, coriaceous, brown, gla- 

 brous or the petioles glabrescent, blade usually exceeding the 

 petiole, fin.-lin. long, ovate, acute, gradually narrowed into a 

 short, broad, winged petiole equalling or exceeding the lamina ; 

 margins minutely toothed, strongly nerved beneath. Scapes 

 unisexual, monoecious (?). Male not seen. Female lin.-l^in. 

 long, lower half naked, upper densely crowded; bracts large, 

 broadly ovate, laciniate; perianth segments 4; stigma stout. 

 Fruits not seen. 



Hab. Hills near the mouth of the Oreti Kiver, Southland ; 

 300ft. ; W. S. Hamilton ! 



Mr. Hamilton states, "The succulent leaves are extremely 

 rich in lime and silica, and give off when old the epidermis 

 as a grey paper ; the anthers are sessile on very stout scapes, 

 not crowded ; the drupes on still stouter peduncles as thick as 

 a goose-quill and 2in.-4in. long, bright red, almost sunk in 

 the fleshy scape, not crowded, but occupying an inch or more 

 of the top." A somewhat hasty search for this tine plant 

 proved fruitless, and led me to the belief that it must be 

 extremely rare and local. There is, however, reason to be- 

 lieve that it occurs in the Marsden district, Nelson. 



