162 Transact ion*. 



Many years ago the late Mr. Buchanan gave me two specimens of this 

 plant, collected in some locality in the Kaikoura Mountains ; and I have 

 gathered what appears to be the same at the Wairoa Gorge. In the 

 Manual I included both of them with my M. laeta, although they ob- 

 viously differed in the much greater size of all their parts. I have now 

 received good recent specimens, collected by Mr. R. M. Laing, and from 

 their study have come to the conclusion that they represent a distinct 

 species, although closely allied to M. laeta. I have much pleasure in 

 associating the plant with the name of Mr. Laing, who is so well known 

 from his long-continued researches into the Algae of New Zealand. 



5. Corysanthes Carsei Cheesem. sp. nov. 



Ab C. unguiculata R. Br. differt floribus angustioribus, labello apiculo 

 minore, sepalo postico emarginato. 



Planta perpusilla, acaulis, florifera 8-12 mm. alta. Folium solitarium, 

 membranaceum, ovato-cordatum, acutum, 6-10 mm. longum. Flos soli- 

 tarius, pro planta majusculus, horizontalis vel deflexus. supra folium sub- 

 sessilis. Sepalum posticum basi angustum, tunc lato-cucullatum. apice 

 incurvatum et emarginatum. Sepala lateralia parva, linearia. Label- 

 lum magnum, 10 mm. longum, orbiculatum, marginibus valde involutis. 

 Columna brevis. curvata. 



Hab. — -North Island : Peaty swamps between Lake Tongonge and 

 the coast, Mongonui County ; H. Carse and H. B. Matthews I 



A small delicate species, |— § in. high when in flower. Leaf sessile, 

 ^— | in. long, ovate-cordate, acute, membranous. Flower sessile or very 

 shortly pedunculate, about | in. long, horizontal or denexed, dull-purplish 

 Upper sepal very narrow at the base, then suddenly expanded, so that 

 the upper two-thirds is broadly oblong and hood-shaped, extreme tip 

 incurved and emarginate and slightly thickened and papillose. Lateral 

 sepals placed under the lip, small, narrow-linear, 4-5 mm. long. Lateral 

 petals still smaller, 3 mm. long. Lip large, tubular, the margins involute, 

 meeting behind the column and enclosing it, orbicular or broader than 

 long when spread out, extreme tip produced into a minute projecting 

 lamina, between which and the overhanging emarginate tip of the upper 

 sepal is the only entrance to the front of the flower. Immediately inside 

 the entrance the surface of the lip is furnished with a broad patch of stiff 

 papillae all pointing towards the interior of the flower, and which is con- 

 tinued as a narrow band down the median line of the lip. At the base 

 of the lip the margins on each side are rolled up on themselves, thus 

 forming two minute circular openings leading to the base of the flower. 

 Column short, stout, curved. Capsule not seen. 



This is a very curious little plant, closely allied to the Australian 

 C. unguiculata; but, judging from Mr. Fitzgerald's beautiful drawing, 

 that species has a much broader flower, the upper sepal is wider and not 

 incurved or emarginate at the tip, the projecting lamina at the apex of 

 the lip is much smaller, and the papillae within the lip are confined to the 

 median line, whereas they also form a broad patch to the right and left 

 of the median line in C. Carsei. There is also a relationship to C. Mat- 

 thewsii ; but, among other differences, it has a much narrower dorsal sepal, 

 and the lip wants the projecting lamina of C. Carsei. 



The numerous additions made to the orchid flora of the North Cape 

 district by Mr. R. H. Matthews, and the discovery of the present species 

 by Messrs. Carse and H. B. Matthews, shows how much might be done 

 by careful investigation in most parts of the Dominion. 



