140 Transactions. 



Art. XXIV. — Description of a Netv Species of Epilobium. 

 By D. Petrie, M.A. 



[Bead before the Auclcland Institute, \%th November, 1908.] 



Epilobium Cockaynianum, sp. nov. 



E. herbaceum flaccidum csespitosum. 



Caules 10-15 cm. longi, erecti v. basi decumbentes, deinde ascendentes, 

 plus minus ramosi, pallidi v. sub-erubescentes, bifariam puberuli, teretes, 

 interdum superne omnino pubescentes. 



Folia floralibus exceptis opposita, conferta, 13 mm. longa, 8 mm. lata, 

 tenuia, late ovata v. ovato-elliptica, obtusa, glabra, remote et obscure v. 

 vix denticulata, breviter petiolata ; nervo medio baud prominente, nervis 

 secundariis nuUis. 



Flores 1-3 in ramis singulis, in axillis foliorum superiorum dispositi, 

 circa 6 mm. longi ; calycis laciniis lanceolatis, acutis ; petalis albis v. roseo- 

 albis, calyce ^ longioribus. 



Capsularum pedicelli fructu maturante elongantes, demum 2-4 cm. 

 longi, graciles, rubelli, plus minus puberuli. 



Capsula glaberrima, brunnea, 2^— 3| cm. longa ; testa glabra. 



Hab. : Mounts Hector and Holdsworth, in the Tararua Range, at 

 3,300 ft. and upwards ; very plentiful on Mount Holdsworth. 



The present species is most nearly allied to E. alsinoides, A. Cunn., and 

 E. Hectori, Haussk. It is likely that the Ruahine Range plant referred by 

 Cheeseman to the latter (" Manual New Zealand Flora," p. 177) properly 

 belongs here. E. Hectori I believe to be confined to the South Island. 



Art! XXV. — Notice of the Discovery of a Species of Burmanniacese, a 

 Family New to the New Zealand Flora. 



By T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S., Curator of the Auckland Museum. 

 [Read before the Auckland Institute, ISth November, 1908.] 



The flora of New Zealand, as regards the flowering-plants, has now been so 

 well explored, and its composition so well ascertained, that much novelty 

 cannot be expected, although isolated discoveries ■will doubtless be made 

 from time to time. Under these circumstances, the addition of another 

 family of plants to those already known to occur in the Dominion cannot 

 fail to excite considerable interest. No apology is, therefore, required for 

 submitting the following notice of its discovery to the Institute. 



In January, 1903, Mr. H. Hill, of Napier, so well known from his numerous 

 papers on the physiography and geology of the ceittral volcanic plateau of 



