Chbeseman. — Contributions to Flora of .Tew Zealand. 211 



specimens, but Honibron's plate, quoted above, so closely resembles the 

 New Zealand species as to leave little doubt of tbe accuracy of the identifica- 

 tion. The late Mr. C. B. Clarke referred U. macrolepis to U. Lechleriana, 

 but that is a species with much longer spikes. 



Uncinia fusco-vaginata, Kukenth. 



In the Manual I referred this to U. purjmrata as var. fusco-vaginata, 

 and I still think that it must be considered as a very near ally of that plant, 

 although possibly entitled to specific rank. 



Uncinia pedicellata, Kukenthal, n. sp. 



This is based upon a plant collected by Dr. Cockayne on Ruapuke Island, 

 in Foveaux Strait. I have seen no specimens, but according to Kukenthal's 

 description it is closely allied to U. australis, differing mainly in the reddish 

 foliage, narrower spikes, obtuse glumes, and obsoletely nerved utricles, 

 which are conspicuously longer than the glumes. In U. australis the utricles 

 seldom exceed the glumes, and are usually distinctly nerved. (Since writing 

 the above, I find from Dr. Cockayne's memoir on the botany of Stewart 

 Island that he regards it as common in lowland forests on that island.) 



Uncinia australis, Pers. 



Kukenthal adopts the name of Uncinia uncinata for this ; the oldest 

 specific name being Carex uncinatus, Linn, f., published in 1781. If priority 

 of publication is alone to be considered, the change of name is miavoidable ; 

 but it may be pointed out that the new combination comes very near to 

 being an infraction of article 55, section 2, of the Vienna rules of botanical 

 nomenclature, under which it is provided that specific names shall be 

 rejected when they merely repeat the generic name. 



Uncinia riparia, R. Br. 



The circumscription adopted by Kukenthal of this variable species 

 agrees in the main with that given in the Manual, with the exception that 

 he also includes Boott's U. Hooheri, from the Auckland and Campbell 

 Islands, distinguishing it as var. Hooheri. When preparing the account of 

 the genus given in the Manual I had no good material of U. Hookeri, and 

 in default of such followed Hooker (Handb. N.Z. Fl. 310) in placing it 

 under Raoul's rupestris. Since then I have received an excellent series of 

 specimens collected by Mr. B. C. Aston, and can fully confirm Kukenthal's 

 identification. 



Uncinia nervosa, Boott. 



Dr. Kukenthal considers that the New Zealand plant referred by me to 

 this species is identical with Raoul's U. rupestris. I regret that I am unable 

 to agree with this opinion, which is not shared by any other worker in the 

 genus. I take it that U. nervosa naturally falls into the neighbourhood of 

 U. conipacta, whereas the true rupestris of Raoul, judging fi-om his plate 

 and description, is closely allied to U. riparia. This view was also held by 

 Mr. C. B. Clarke, with whom I had some correspondence on the subject. 

 In all probability Raoul's rupestris should be referred, as a variety, to 

 U. riparia, and be placed in close association Avith var. Hooheri. 



Carex teretiuscula, Good. 



Kukenthal adopts the older name of C. diandra, Schrank, published in 

 1782, whereas C. teretiuscula did not appear until 1791. 



