288 Transactions, — Botany. 



** Leaves 2-dentate or 2-fid. 



2. M. amcenum, sp. nov. 



Small : stems 1-2 inches long, spreading, deciirved, loosely 

 dicliotomous ; branches leafy, equal, about ^ inch long, -!^^ inch 

 wide (including leaves), cellular. Leaves very distinct, not 

 imbricate, alternate and sub-opposite, oblong-quadrate, margins 

 slightly sinuous, dorsal edge arched, ventral nearly straight, 

 truncate, largely bidentate, the ujiper lobe larger, sinus nearly 

 one-third length of leaf, broad, sinuate ; colour pleasing light 

 grass-green ; cells large, orbicular, alike throughout. Stipules 

 excessively minute, free, adpressed, composed of 4-5 capillary 

 cellular fimbria. Flagell^ numerous, 3-4 to a branchlet, long, 

 capillary. Male inflorescence from upper axils of stipules, 

 single and geminate, sub-pedicelled, highly cellular ; perianth 

 campanulate, 5-7 fissured, lacini^e ovate-acuminate, enclosing 

 an orbicular head of 10-12 minute cylindrical reddish sacs. 



Hab. Li dense forests near Norsewood, County of Waipawa ; 

 1886: W.G. Euuning over and into cushions oi Leucohnjuin 

 candidum. 



Obs. A species having affinity with M. cotensoaniim, Hook, 

 fil., but differing from that species in its leaves not being imbri- 

 cated, and in its stipules being minute and cai^illary-laciniate. 



3. M. minutulum, sp. nov. 



Plant very small, 4-5 lines (rarely ^ inch) high ; dark 

 green. Stems rather stout (for the plant), cellular, usually 

 once forked ; branches few, short, leafy, sub -^-^ih. inch wide, 

 including leaves. Leaves distant below, close and loosely 

 imbricated above, narrow oblong-quadrate, sub-falcate, slightly 

 curved at dorsal margin, contracted at base, margins narrowly 

 thickened and irregular, truncate, bidentate, tips somewhat 

 obtuse, the upper lobe larger, sinus large, wide, edges irregular, 

 cells perfectly orbicular, with minute interstitial ones. Stipules 

 distant, excessively minute, laciniate, appressed. Flagellae 

 short, stoutish, scaly. 



Hah. On the ground, but mostly confined to decaying dry 

 vegetable matter ; in dense wet woods near Norsewood, County 

 of Waipawa; 1886: W.C. 



**=*' Leaves 3-dentate or 3-fid. 



4. M. elegans, sp. nov. 



Plant compactly tufted, erect; stems 2-4 inches high, diclio- 

 tomous ; branches simply forked above, 2 lines wide, uniform 

 throughout ; tips recurved ; light green, margins often tinged 

 with pink. Leaves numerous, close-set, opposite, slightly im- 

 bricate at dorsal bases, spreading, convex, broadly ovate or 



