354 Transactions. — Botany. 



exceeding the culms, the laciniate ligule, the smaller spikelets, 

 and unequal flowering-glumes ; also from P. foliosa by the 

 longer pedicels, very short styles, and cylindrical grain. 



It is most appropriate that this very distinct species should 

 be dedicated to Mr. A. Hamilton, who has made such remark- 

 able additions to the flora of Macquarie Island, and materially 

 assisted in elucidating the general flora of New Zealand, more 

 especially in the Hawke's Bay and Okarito districts. 



Deschampsia penicillata, n.s. 



A slender, glabrous plant, 3in.-4in. high. Leaves few, 

 spreading, involute, lin.-l|in. Culms erect, leafy to the base 

 of the panicle ; ligule ovate-acuminate, entire or divided ; panicle 

 simple, or with one or two branchlets at the base, rhachis and 

 pedicels capillary ; spikelets 2-flowered, with the rhachilla 

 produced above the second flower, and bearing an empty 

 glume ; outer glume equalling the flowering-glume or nearly, 

 narrow ovate - acute, 3 - nerved ; flowering - glume ovate, 

 truncate, erose at the apex,.5-nerved ; nerves of palea silky; 

 stamens 3 ; grain free. Ehachilla silky, witb a pencil of long 

 hairs at the base of each flower. 



Hob. Macquarie Island ; 1894; in swamps : A. Hamilton! 



In some respects this forms an abnormal member of the 

 genus, as it is destitute of the dorsal awn characteristic of 

 Deschampsia, a character which is, however, absent in other 

 species usually referred to the genus. It has some affinities 

 with Aira, but differs in the awnless flowering-glumes, the 

 rhachilla being produced considerably above the second 

 flower and often carrying an abortive glume, and especially in 

 the free grain. I have only two small specimens of this 

 curious little grass, which I was for some time inclined to 

 consider a reduced state of Deschampsia ccespitosa, Palisot. 



Art. XLIV. — A Bevision of the New Zealand Species of 



Colobanthus, Battling. 



By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 20th February, 



1895.] 



Plates XXVIId. and XXVIIe. 



All the New Zealand species of Colobanthus are glabrous 

 tufted green or brown herbs, never exceeding Sin. in height 

 except when they form large uneven masses. Their texture 



