Ckoss. — Observations on some New Zealand Ualophytes. 549 



Li\e Form. — Of this, the stems only were found growing from a rhizome." 

 According to Cheeseman, leaves are absent. 

 Stems short and cylindrical. 



3. Scirpus maritimus. 



Station. — N.Br, (only) : In the channels with S. americanus, but extend- 

 ing further out into the marsh. 



Life Form. — It was not distinguished with any certainty from S. ameri- 

 canus. The leaves appeared somewhat broader. 



4. Carex litorosa. 



Station. — (1.) H.C. : Very sparingly in the salt marshes at the border 

 of the rushes. (2.) N.Br. : In rather greater numbers, but occupying 

 same station as at H.C. (3.) Tu. : Not collected. 



Life Form. — Compact tufts, with numerous fibrous roots. 



Leaves long, narrow, grooved, the inner surface concave. They are 

 produced into long thread-like points, which in the dead leaves collected 

 were twisted into fantastic spirals. 



5. Leptocarpus simplex. 



Station. — (1.) H.C. : Associated with Jxmciis maritimus in the salt 

 marshes. (2.) N.Br. ; As noted previously, it is here the dominant 

 species of the salt-marsh formation. (3.) Tu. : Absent from the vicinity 

 of the lagoons. 



Life Form. — A rush-like plant, growing from a stout creeping rhizome, 

 covered thickly with brown scales. 



Stems 30-1.50 cm. high, about 1 mm. in diameter, numerous, unbranched, 

 cyUndrical. They are extremely tough and wiry, with narrow internodes 

 4-10 cm. long. 



Leaves reduced to the sheathing-scales, which clasp the stem closely. 

 Each scale is composed of an outer membranous skin and an inner glassy, 

 brown, thicker coat. 



6. Juncus maritimus, var. australiensis. 



Station. — (1.) H.C. : Salt marshes. (2.) N.Br. : Salt marshes, and also 

 in scattered clumps over the salt meadows. (3.) Tu. : Though, according 

 to Cheeseman. not found further south than Banks Peninsula, a few plants 

 were collected in the neighbourhood of the lagoons. 



Life Form. — A typical rush, growing from a short, stout, brownish 

 rhizome, giving of? stems 30-90 cm. high, numerous, rigid, dark-coloured, 

 cylindrical, ending in sharp points. They are of greater diameter (up to 

 3 mm.) than the stems of Leptocarpus simplex, but hardly so wiry. They 

 are marked longitudinally with narrow ridges and grooves. At the base 

 of the stems are brown scales, the inner ones of which are produced into 

 cylindrical pungent leaves of exactly the same^ appearance and structure 

 as the stems. These leaves clasp the bases of the stems. 



This variety, according to Cheeseman (xvii), " differs from the typical 

 state of the species in the darker colour of the plant, in the smaller and 

 more densely aggregated darker flowers, in the shorter capsule, and in the. 

 less evident tails to the seeds." 



