230 transactions. — Botany. 



Quoted from Otago by Mr. Buclaauaii (" Trans. N.Z. Inst.," i., 

 p. 43), but I have seen no specimens from thence. 



A large, sparingly-branched shrub, 8-15 feet high, with dark- 

 brown bark. Leaves much the largest of the genus, 5-9 inches 

 long, obovate-oblong or elliptic-oblong, acute, dull green, not 

 shining or glossy, membranous, veuis very finely reticulated. 

 Peduncles 1-3 inches long, trichotomously divided. Flowers in 

 fascicles at the ends of the divisions of the peduncle, each fascicle 

 being enclosed in a shallow involucre formed by a pair of reduced 

 leaves (bracts) and their connecting stipules. A distinct though 

 minute calyx is present in both sexes. Male corolla ^ inch 

 long, funnel-shaped. Female much smaller, ^-^ inch, tubular, 

 Drupe about J inch long, oblong, obtuse, yellowish-orange. 



One of the most distinct species of the genus. The large 

 foliage and well-developed inflorescence separate it from all its 

 allies. C. lucida approaches it m inflorescence, but is at once 

 distinguished by the much smaller more obovate coriaceous 

 leaves, and by the stouter and more compact habit. C. tenui- 

 folia has leaves very near in outline, colour, texture, and 

 venation, but ihey are much smaller ; and, judging from the 

 fruit, the inflorescence is very diflerent. 



Mr. Colenso has very Idndly favoured me with flowering 

 and fruiting specimens (collected at Hawke's Bay) of a Coprcsma 

 labelled " C. laiifolia, Col.," and which I understand he has 

 lately described as a new species closely allied to C. (jrandifulia. 

 After a careful examination, however, I have failed to find any 

 characters to separate his plant from C. yramUfolia, even as a 

 variety. The leaves are perhaps a trifle more obtuse than is 

 usual, but otherwise I see no difference at all from the ordinary 

 form common near Auckland and in many other places. 



2. C. lucida. 



Forst., Prodr., p. 138 ; D.C, rrodr., iv., p. 378 ; A. Eich., Flora, p. 262 ; 

 A. Cunn., Prodr., ii., p. 2CG ; Eaoul, Choix dcs Plantos, p. 4G ; Hook, 

 fil., Flora Nov. Zeal., i., p. 104 ; Handbk. N.Z. Flora, p. 112. Felciphia 

 laurifolia, Banks et Sol., MSS. 



North Island. — Common throughout, from the North Cape 

 to Wellington. Altitudinal range from sea-level to over 3,000 

 feet. 



Sonth Island. — Nelson, plentiful, T.F.C. ; Marlborough, J. 

 Buchanaii ; Westland, A. llaviilUm ! ; Canterbury, in Banks 

 Peninsula and lowland districts, J. B. Armstrong, T.F.C. ; Otngo, 

 common on the soutb-rast and west coasts, not so plentiful in 

 the north or in the interior, D. Fetrie ! ; Stewart Itland, plenti- 

 ful, D. Peirie. 



A handsome stout leafy shrub, 4-16 feet high, perfectly 

 glabrous in all its parts. Leaves 2-5 inches long, oblong- 



