214 Transactions. — Botany. 



This fine Cehnisia was collected by Mr. Martin on Mount 

 Bonpland, and has succeeded well with him at his nursery at 

 Green Island, where it was planted out, and bids fair to become 

 a permanent plant of cultivation. 



AciplnjUa kirkii, Buch. 



A rigid shining plant, 8-12 inches long. Leaves 8-9 inches 

 long, f-1 inch broad. Leaves chiefly bifoliate, bifurcation 3-6 

 inches from top, obtuse, apiculate, finely marked with anasto- 

 mosing striffi, and with a stout marginal nerve on both sides of 

 the leaf, sheath at bottom membranous. Flowers dioecious. 

 Male scape nearly straight, bracts long, 3-foliate. Female 

 scape and bracts flexuose. Umbels numerous. 



This well-marked species was collected on Mount Alta, in 

 1883, but as the only specimen then procured arrived at Duoedin 

 in a very fragmentary state, it was laid aside. On a recent 

 examination the material proved sufficient for a restoration, 

 when carefully jDut together. Another species of Aciphylla may 

 be looked for in the Wanaka District, of which I have only a 

 fragment. The leaves are 12 inches long, smooth and shining, 

 with the striae only marked, and the serrations on the edges of 

 the leaves scarcely felt. 



Gastrodia hectori, Buch. 



Boot tuberous, stem and spike of flowers 18 inches high, 

 closely sheathed for f of its length by a long leaf, ^ of the leaf 

 being free, a short outer sheath at bottom encloses the base of 

 the sheathing leaf. Scales none. Kacemes 3^ inches long. 

 Flowers 13, close-set, brownish-yellow, y% of an inch in length, 

 seed-vessel black, or dark brown, orbicular. 



The present species was collected several years ago in Marl- 

 borough district, near Picton, and has also been seen on the 

 Conway Eiver. The species of Gastrodia are probably abun- 

 dant, but their dark habitats, in dense bush country, prevent 

 them from being easily seen. 



Ourisia montana, Buch. 



A small erect hispid plant, 1-2^ inches high. Stems creep- 

 ing ; leaves few, linear, ovate, or obovate, entire, 1-1 i inch 

 long, ^-| inch broad. Petiole one-third as long as the leaf. 

 Scape \\ inch, with one very small bract. Flowers solitary, 

 large for the size of the plant, pedicels slendei', sju'inging from 

 the base, and with the flower topping the leaves. Coroha laige, 

 while, oblique, limb 5-fid., ^ inch diameter. Calyx 5-partite. 



The laigc cntiie leaves, long pedicels, and large flowers, dis- 

 tinguish this species ircm Uuriaia vnijiora and (Jurisia cohnevi. 

 CollectGd on Mount Alta Eange, at 6,0C0 lo 6,000 feet altitude. 



