160 Transactions 



2. Coxella Cheesem. et Hemsl. in Illustr. N.Z. Flora, t. 64 (ined.), nov. 



gen. 



Herba erecta. perennis, glabra. Folia pinnatim decomposita ; seg- 

 mentis linearibus, planis, flaccidis, non spinescentibus. Umbellae com- 

 positae, axillares. pedunculatae, in paniculam dispositae. Involucri bracteae 

 paucae, parvae, anguste lanceolatae. Flores albi. Calycis dentes promi- 

 nuli. Petala latiuscula, acumine brevi inflexo. Fructus late oblongus, a 

 dorso compressus, subequaliter 5-alatus ; alis latis, tenuibus, rnembranaceis. 

 Carpella a dorso valde compressa, altero 3-alato, altero 2-alato ; vittae 

 magnae. sub valleculis solitariae vel duae. Carpophorum 2-partitum. 

 Semen ad vittas sulcatum. 



C. Dieffenbachii Cheesem. et Hemsl., I.e., species unica. Gingidium 

 Dieffenbachii F. Muell., Veg. Chat., 17, t. 1. Ligusticum Dieffenbachii 

 Hook. f.. Handb. N.Z. FL, 729. Angelica Dieffenbachii, Index Kew, 1, 133. 

 Aciphylla Dieffenbachii T. Kirk. Students' Fl., 211 ; Cheesem.. Man. N.Z. 

 FL, 214. 



Hab. — Chatham Islands : Maritime cliffs ; now exceedingly scarce. 

 H. H. Travers ! F. A. D. Cox! Captain Dorrien Smith/ 



A very remarkable plant, of doubtful position. A glance at the 

 synonyms quoted above shows that it has been placed by turns in the 

 genera Gingidium, Ligusticum, Angelica, and Aciphylla. From the typical 

 Ligustica it differs markedly in the flattened and conspicuously winged 

 fruit, one carpel being 3-winged and the other 2-winged, or very rarely 

 both carpels may be 3-winged. The vittae are unusually large, and are 

 either 1 or 2 in the interspaces, with 2 or 3 on the commisural face. From 

 Angelica it is separated by the equally winged fruit, in the smaller number 

 of wings (or ribs), and in the number being unequal in the two carpels. 

 It has much of the habit of Aciphylla, although the leaves and bracts are 

 never spinescent, but differs in the flattened and winged carpels, and in 

 the smaller number of wings (or ribs) to each carpel, to say nothing of the 

 much larger vittae. Believing that it is best treated as a separate genus, 

 Mr. Hemsley and myself have given it the name of Coxella in the forth- 

 coming " Illustrations of the New Zealand Flora," in which a carefully 

 prepared plate with full analytical details will appear. 



The name Coxella is used to commemorate the services to botanical 

 science of Mr. F. A. D. Cox, of Whangamarino, Chatham Islands. During 

 a lengthened residence in this outlying corner of the Dominion Mr. Cox 

 has regularly and consistently collected specimens of the flora of the 

 islands. These he has communicated to most New Zealand botanists, 

 accompanying them with much valuable information. It is largely through 

 his assistance in supplying material that our present knowledge of the 

 Chatham Islands florula is in such a satisfactory position. 



In an interesting paper prepared by Captain Dorrien Smith, entitled 

 " An Attempt to introduce Olearia semi-dentata into the British Islands," 

 published in the Kew Bulletin for 1910 (pp. 120-26), which contains 

 much information of value respecting the vegetation of the Chatham 

 Islands, Captain Dorrien Smith gives an account of a visit to the only 

 known locality for Coxella, near the south end of the main island. This is 

 accompanied by an excellent photograph of the plant in its natural habitat. 



3. Coprosma neglecta Cheesem. sp. nov. 



Ab C. rhamnoides differt caule prostrato, ramulis et petiolis dense et 

 breviter pubescentibus. foliis crassis et subcarnosis, baccis (immaturis) 

 oblongis. 



