20i Transactions. 



XXXIII. Umbellifer.^. 

 Azorella. 



Dr. Karl Domin, in a communication entitled " Ueber eine neue austral- 

 antarktisclie Umbelliferen Gattung," published in Engier's " Botanisclie 

 Jabrbucher " (vol. xl, p. 573), constitutes a separate genus of the whole 

 of those species of Azorella included in Hooker's section Schizeilana, point- 

 ing out that the section is not only separated by a marked difference in 

 habit, but by other characters of impoi*tance. There is much to be said in 

 favour of Domin's views, which will probably receive the acceptance of 

 New Zealand botanists. As characterized by him, the genus Schizeilema 

 will include the whole of the species referred to Azorella in my " Manual of 

 the New Zealand Flora," with the exception of A. Selago, which is a typical 

 Azorella. It will also include two species from the extreme south of South 

 America, and the Australian Azorella Muelleri, Benth. {Schizeilema fragosiim, 

 Domin). The following synopsis of the New Zealand species, abbreviated 

 from Domin's memoir, will show his views regarding them. 



Leaves 3-5-partite or -foliate. 



Leaflets distincth' petioluiate , . . . . . \. 8. trijoUolatum. 



Divisions all sessile. 



Segments entire or nearly so . . . . 2. S. niitns. 



Segments more or less cut, lobed or dentate. 



Fruit longer than its pedicel . . . . Z. 8. Iiydmc.otyloides 

 Fruit shorter than its pedicel. 

 Livolucral leaves obtuse. 



Stout ; leaves coriaceous . . 4. 8. Roughii. 



Slender ; leaves membranous . . o. S. pallidum. 



Involucral leaves acuminate . . 6. ;S. Colensoi. 

 Leaves undi\'ided. 



Minute ; leaves scarcely 2 mm. long . . ..7.8. exigmmi. 



Large or small, but leaves always larger than above. 



Fi'uit longer than its pedicel . . . . 8. iS'. reniforme. 



Fruit shorter than its pedicel . . . . 9. <S. Haastii. 



Smaller ; leaves 5-10 mm. ; fruit not much 



shorter than its pedicel . . . . Ditto, subsp. cyanopetalum. 



Larger ; leaves 12-30 mm. ; fruit 4 times 



shorter than its pedicel . . . . Ditto, sixbsp. Hookeriamtm. 



From the above it will be noticed that Domin adds an additional species 

 {S. Colensoi) to those already known to inhabit the Dominion. It is based 

 upon Hooker's Azorella trifoUolata, var. h, an obscure plant gathered by 

 Colenso on crags at Titiokura, between Napier and Taupo, but which has 

 not been observed since its first discovery more than sixty years ago. I 

 have seen no specimens, and cannot express any opinion of my own as to 

 the validity of the species ; but as Dr. Domin has inspected the type in the 

 Kew Herbarium, we may accept it on his authority. It shovild also be 

 mentioned that Dr. Domin treats S. Haastii as a " collective species," 

 dividing it into the two subspecies — cyanofetalum , which he distinguishes 

 by its smaller size, leaf-blades 5-10 mm. diameter, fruit not much shorter 

 than its pedicel, and blue petals ; and Hoolierianmn, which is much larger, 

 the lamina of the leaf being 12-30 mm. diameter, and the fruit often 

 only a quarter the length of the pedicel. Now, there is no doubt that 

 forms of A. Haastii can be found agreeing with these characters 

 (except the blue petals, which I have never observed, and doubt the 

 occurrence of in a fresh state), but whether these represent permanent 

 varieties, separated by constant characters, appears to me to be highly 

 doubtful. 



