212 Transactions. 



Carex appressa, R. Br. 



Kukentlial unites with this species both C. virgata and C. secta. There 

 is much to be said in favour of this, for it cannot be denied that intermediate 

 forms exist betAveen the three plants, and also between C. appressa and the 

 northern C. paniculaia. In my revision of the New Zealand Carices, pub- 

 lished in 1884, I therefore followed Baron Mueller and Mr. Bentham in 

 placing all three under C. paniculaia. But, as explained in the Manual, 

 further consideration has led me to alter this opinion, and to keep the 

 species separate. After all, the differences between the three plants are 

 quite as well marked as those between several species of Carex admitted 

 by most authors, and for the sake of consistency it appears best to uphold 

 their distinctness. 



Carex slellulata, Good. 



In the Manual I followed Bentham and other well-known authors in 

 adopting the name of C. echinata, Murr., for this species. But the late 

 Mr. C. B. Clarke definitely proved that Murray's plant was identical with 

 one of the forms of C. muricata, and Dr. Kukenthal has arrived at the same 

 conclusion. Under these circumstances, botanists are pretty well agreed 

 in taking up the next-oldest name of C. stellulata, Good. 



Carex flava, Linn. 



Kukenthal places the New Zealand form of this species u.nder C. 

 Oederi, Retz, as var. calaraclce. C. Oederi mainly differs from C. flava in 

 the smaller size and shorter straight beak to the utricle. It is little more 

 than a matter of taste as to whether the two species should be kept up or 

 combined. 



Carex Buchanani, Berggr. 



Kukenthal reduces this to C. lucida, as var. Buchanani, a view with which 

 I am unable to concur. C. Buchanani differs markedly in the much more 

 strict and erect habit, in the semi-terete and much more coriaceous leaves, 

 in the pale-coloured glumes, and in the plano-convex u.tricles, which are 

 sharply serrate above, and have a much longer and more deeply bidentate 

 beak. Not only is the aspect of the plant most distinct, so that it can be 

 recognised at a glance, but its characters appear to me to be fairly constant. 

 Dr. Kukenthal remarks that it is connected with C. lucida by numerous 

 passage forms ; but I have not myself met with specimens that could be so 

 described. I feel sure that all New Zealand botanists familiar with the 

 plant will repudiate any proposal to associate it with C. lucida. 



Carex rubicunda, Petrie. 



Kukenthal refers this to C Petriei, as var. ruhicunda. The late Mr. C. B. 

 Clarke suggested that it should be placed with Berggren's C. cirrhosa. I 

 have alluded to its affinity with C. Petriei in the Manual, and suspect that 

 its reduction to that species will be maintained. 



Carex Dallii, T. Kirk. 



Probably a mere form of C. Petriei, Cheesem. 



Carex plesiostachys, C. B. Clarke. 



Not taken up by Kukenthal. I am now inclined to consider it a form 

 of C. comans, Berggr. 



