826 Transactions. — Botany. 



8. Cehnisia prorepens, n. sp. 



A species of somewhat smaller size than C. viscosa, Hook, 

 fil., forming large dense patches on moist alpine situations. 



Eootstock (denuded of the withered fihrous bases of the 

 leaves) as stout as a quill or stouter, much branched, creeping 

 and rooting, the terminal portions invested by a dense covering 

 of the withered sheaths of the leaves or of their fibrous remains. 



Leaves densely crowded, 1^-3 inches long, ^-1 inch broad, 

 thin, leathery, rugose and corrugated lengthwise, glabrous above, 

 below glabrous, or with a very thin pellicle of grey tomentum, 

 oblong-lanceolate, acute, coarsely serrate, margins recurved, 

 viscid, with veins distinct below. Sheaths narrower than the 

 leaves, semi-membranous, striate, extremely viscid, reddish- 

 brown. 



Scapes 1 or 2, axillary, 6 inches long or less, flattened 

 towards the base, slender, viscid, with sparse hairs and nume- 

 rous broadly-linear entire bracts, often as much as 1 inch long. 



Heads f inch across; involucral scales rather few, linear, 

 very viscid. 



Pappus as long as the slender silky achene. 



Hab. Old Man Eange, 4,500 feet; Mt. St. Bathans, 5,000 feet. 



This is a very distinct species. My flowering specimens are 

 few, and the description of the head may need correction. 



4. Stipa setacea, Br. 



Several years ago I found this grass at Firewood Creek, 

 Cromwell, and the Nevis Bluft", Kawarau Eiver. As the plants 

 were confined in these localities to small areas, and these were 

 near an important highwaj^ it was uncertain whether the species 

 had not been accidentally introducfd. In March of the present 

 year I found it on the banks of the Waitaki Eiver at "Wharekuri. 

 The discovery of this widely-distant habitat is sufticient to 

 remove all reasonable doubt as to its being a genuine native of 

 New Zealand. No doubt it will be observed in other stations ere 

 long. The rare occurrence of this grass is, I believe, due to its 

 being a favourite with sheep. At the Nevis Blufi" I noticed that 

 it was always closely cropped wherever .sheep could get at it, and 

 it was only in the clefts of rocky ciifl's and inaccessible ledges 

 that flowering or fruiting specimens could be got. At Cromwell, 

 also, the only specimens to be found grow in spots very 

 difficult of access. I have for years caielully looked for this 

 plant in all likely places, and I am satisfied that it is now on 

 the verge of extinction. It has a wide lange in Australia, being 

 found as far north as Queensland and as far south as Tasmania. 

 I do not know whether it is readily eaten by sheep in these 

 countries. 



