Abstracts. 33 



Veronica gigantea, 20ft. high, was seen in full flower; its seedlings are noted as being 

 very different to the mature trees, " the leaves being larger and covered with downy 

 hairs, while the stems are of a reddish-purple colour." The author considers Plagi- 

 anthus chathamicus Cockayne distinct from P. betulinus A. Cunn. In some places 

 Marchantia cephaloscypha covers bog an acre in extent. The vegetation of a sea-cliff 

 at Te Tuku consisted of Phormium tenax, a long grass (probably Festuca Coxii Hack.), 

 Astelia nervosa, Veronica chathamica, Geranium Traversii, Aciphylla Dieffenbachii, Senecio 

 Imitus, S. radiolatus, Myosotidium -nobile, Urtica australis. The Myosotidium, Phormium, 

 and Aciphylla are threatened with extinction. 



L. C. 



1. New Zealand Plants. Bv A. A. Dorrien-Smith.. {Gardeners' 1 Chronicle, 



vol. 49, p. 58; 1911.) 



The author brought from New Zealand to England 2,000 plants, comprising 217 

 species. Of these, he lost 45 species on the voyage. Amongst those landed in good 

 condition 38 species were new to cultivation in the British Islands. A list of these is 

 given, and, amongst others, it includes Aciphylla Dieffenbachii, Astelia montana,6 species 

 of Celmisia (including G. Rutlandi), 3 species of Dracophyllum, Olearia semidentata, 

 Podocarpus acutifolius, Ranunculus lobulatus, Rubus Barkeri, R. parvus. Veronica Astoni, 

 and V. Bollonsii. This latter is a species from the Poor Knights Islands, of which the 

 ■reviewer hopes shortly to publish a diagnosis. 



L. C. 



5. Remarkable Instances of Plant-dispersion. By G. Henslow. (Journal 

 Royal Horticultural Society, vol. 35, pp. 312-351 ; 1910.) 



In this paper the author repeats the assertion that white clover wiped out Phormium 

 tenax in New Zealand, but that the former was ousted by Hypochaeris radicata ; further, 

 that the latter in less than three years wholly destroyed excellent pastures and absolutely 

 displaced every other plant on the ground. Reasons are assigned for this (alleged) 

 vigour in white clover and other introduced plants, such as — the climate favouring 

 duration of life ; more than one crop of seeds in a year; scarcity of graminiverous birds. 

 Further, it is stated that annual weeds which in England would have no chance with 

 perennials " have spread in inconceivable quantities into the wildest glens, before either 

 white men or even their cattle and Hocks penetrate their recesses."' 



L. C. 



6. Olearias in Ireland. By C. F. Ball. {Ga/rdeners' Chronicle, vol. 19, 

 pp. 52-53 ; 1911.) 



An account of the species of Olearia in cultivation at the Glasnevin Botanical 

 Gardens, Dublin. Eighteen are New Zealand species. Amongst others are 0. chathamica, 

 0. insignis. O. Lyallii, and O. lacunosa. 



L. C. 



7. Hybrid Veronicas. By Editor of Gardeners' Chronicle. {Gardeners' 

 Chronicle, vol. 18, p. 103 ; 1910.) 



An account of the following hybrid Veronicas raised by Mr. Lindsay, formerly of 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh : V. x myrtifolia is the result of a cross between 

 V. Balfouriana { ? ) and V. salicifolia ( <$ ). V. x edinensis had V. Hectori for ? parent 

 and V. pimelioide-s for 3 parent. The cross is closely allied to V. epacridea, if not 

 identical. 



L. C. 



Bv Authority: John Mackay, Govcmmeut'-PrirrttM-, Wellington. — 1911. 



[950/7/11—10953 



