424 Transactions. 



the base, compressed, deeply striate ; ligules broad, transversely oblong, 

 membranous. Panicle narrow-linear, 2-6 in. long, rigid, erect, glabrous ; 

 branches few, unequal, solitary or 2-nate, more rarely 3-nate, erect, often 

 almost appressed to the rhachis. Spikelets tj-jin. long, narrow lanceolate, 

 4-6-flowered. Two outer glumes unequal, the longer one about ^ the length 

 of the spikelet, lanceolate, 3-nerved ; the shorter one broader, 1 -nerved. 

 Flowering-glume oblong-ovate, subacute, faintly 3-nerved, glabrous, or a 

 tuft of fine silky hairs on the callus. Palea nearly as long as the glume, 

 margins ciliate. 



Hab. — Chatham Islands : Exact locality not stated ; F.A.I). Cox! 



This appears to be a distinct species, easily recognized by the stout 

 loosely-tufted habit, long narrow panicle, and narrow many-flowered spikelets. 



3. Plantago Masonae Cheesm. n. sp. 



Affinis P. triandrae Berggren, sed differt foliis crassis et carnosis, 

 spathulatis lanceolatisve, integerrimis vel dentatis vel pinnatifidis, lobis 

 callosis, floribus minoribus, pedunculis brevissimis. 



Rootstock short, stout, putting down numerous thick and fleshy rootlets. 

 Leaves many, all radical, spreading, the outer closely appressed to the surface 

 of the ground, thus forming rosettes |-2| in. diam., very thick and fleshy, 

 greenish blotched with purple, |-l^in. long, rarely more, ovate- or oblong- 

 spathulate to lanceolate -spathulate, suddenly narrowed into a broad flat 

 petiole of variable length, towards the apex gradually narrowed into a 

 blunt fleshy or almost callous point ; margins, with the exception of the 

 triangular tip, regularly and almost pinnatifidly divided into numerous 

 shallow blunt fleshy or callous lobes ; upper surface furnished with short 

 whitish jointed hairs that are usually arranged in transverse bands ; under- 

 surface glabrous or nearly so ; base of the leaf usually furnished with longer 

 brownish tortuou« hairs, but sometimes almost glabrous. Flowers minute, 

 solitary in the axils of the leaves ; peduncles wanting or nearly so, apparently 

 not elongating in fruit. Bract ovate, minute. Calyx-segments 4, ovate, 

 obtuse. Corolla-tube three times the length of the calyx in the flowering 

 period ; limb 4-lobed, lobes oblong, obtuse. Stamens invariably 4 in all 

 the numerous flowers examined. Capsule globose ; seeds numerous, 10-20. 



Hab. — North Island : Sea-cliffs at Manaia, Taranaki, often in localities 

 well washed with sea-spray ; Mrs. F. Mason ! 



This is evidently a close ally of P. triandra Berggren, but differs in the 

 more robust habit, very fleshy and proportionately much broader leaves 

 with obtuse callous tips, more minute sessile flowers the peduncles of which 

 apparently do not lengthen in fruit, in the stamens being always 4, and in 

 the smaller capsules. I have pleasure in associating the plant with the 

 name of its discoverer, to whom I am much indebted for information 

 respecting the vegetation of south-western Taranaki. 



4. Colobanthus strictus Cheesm. n. sp. 



Dense pulvinatus glaberrimus, foliis arete imbricatis, strictis, erectis, 

 rigidis, lineari-subulatis, supra canaliculars, apicibus jiiliferis : sepalis 5, 

 basi late ovatis, incrassatis, supra longe attenuatis. 



A perfectly glabrous densely -tufted rigid plant, forming hemispherical 

 cushions 1-3 in. diam. Leaves numerous, denselv imbricated all round the 



