124 Proceedings. 



if 



gether j^rimitive stamji, since it contain.s relatively a very high number of endemic types 

 (twenty-six out of forty-one), and it may rightly be considered the original home of the 

 subsection Arenurice-Australes and the section Ecltinochlcence. A remarkable character, 

 and to be found nowhere else, is the wine-red colour of the leaves of many species, also 

 of Uncinia. With the neighbouring parts of Australia an exchange of eleven species 

 has taken place. C. dissita extends, with a certain iilteration, to the Australian monsoon 

 region. Carex irifida also occurs in the subantarctic region." 



The following are the chief changes made by Kiikenthai : — 



1. C. pyrenaica, Wahl. 



The type is found on high mountains in ths four quarters of the globe and in the 

 alpine region in both Islands of New Zealand. 



A var. p cephalotes (F. Muell.), Kiikenth., is described which is smaller than the 

 type, has ovate or subglobose spikelets 6-8 mm. long, invariably 2 styles and utricle very 

 shortly stipitate and broader than in the type. This variety, which was considered a 

 species by Von Mueller, is confined to New Zealand and Australia. 



2. C. teretiuscida, Good. 



This is given as a synonym of C. diandra, Schi-ank, on the score of priority. The 

 type alone occurs in New Zealand. 



3. C. appressa, R. Br. 



Carex virgata, Sol., and C. secta, Boott, maintained by Cheeseman as species, are 

 reduced to varieties of the above, and a new variety y sectoides, Kiikenth., is described 

 which includes only the Chatham Island plant, also considered possibly distinct by 

 Cheeseman. But for this latter variety the author would have considered C. secta, Boott, 

 a v?]id species, but he holds that the var. sectoides is a connecting-link between it and 

 C. appressa. 



In addition to Australia and Tasmania, New Caledonia is given as an additional 

 habitat for the type. The var. virgata is also Australian and Tasmanian, but the re- 

 maining two varieties are endemic. 



4. G. inversa, Br. 



Two forms of the type — parvula, Kiikenth. (Wliangaroa, Petrie in Herb. Cockayne 

 No. 1642, and also in New South Wales), with weak culms 4—6 cm. tall and very small 

 few-flowered spikelets ; and major, Boott (confined to Australia) — are described. A 

 new variety, (i costuta, Kiikenth. (Soutli Island, near Lake Wanaka. Petrie !), is de- 

 scribed, and is cliaracterized by the slender crdms, flaccid leaves, and intensely green 

 utricle, marked on both sides by strong brownish nerves. A var. y Leichhardtii, Boeck., 

 the var. major, Benth. non Boott, is described which ajipears to be common in Australia, 

 but only one New Zealand specimen is noted. It has culms taller than the type, and 

 the utricle conspicuously winged and abrujitly contracted into a moderately long in- 

 curved beak. 



5. C. echinata, Murr. 



According to the author, on the aiithority of C. B. Clarke, this sjiecies, which is con- 

 fined to the Northena Hemisjihere, has been confused by most authors with C. stelliUata, 

 Good., the two species belonging to different sections of the subgenus Vignea. 



C. stdlulata, Good., is divided into six varieties, the tyjie and var. australis', Ki'dventh., 

 alone occurring in New Zealand, the latter being endemic. It is characterized by its 

 flaccid culms and leaves and utricles with smooth or sparingly scabrid margins. 



6. C. lagopina, Wahl. 



The type alone occurs in New Zealand. Four non-New-Zealand varieties are 

 described. 



7. G. Oavdichaudiana, Kimtli. 



Three varieties are given. The type and var. (i hiimilior, Kiikenth., occur both in 

 New Zealand and Australia ; \ar. y contracia (F. Miiell.), Kiikenth., is ])ecidiar to 

 Australia, and var. 5 Tlumbergii (Steud.), Kiikentli., is confined to East Asia, including 

 Japan. The var. humilior has short frctjueutly curved culms, spikelets close together, 

 short oblong-ovate, and utricles ovate and broader than the type. 



8. Carex ternaria, Forst. f. 



This, G. Darwinii, Boott, and C. subdola, Boott, are placed by the author in a dif- 

 ferent section of the subgenus to C. Gaudichaudiana, Kunth. 



The treatment, of C. ternaria is much the same as that of Cheeseman, except that 

 the var. pallida, Cheesem., is made a form merely of var. minor, Boott, another form 

 of which {nigrescens, Kiikenth.) is described. The variety minor has fewer and shorter 

 spikelets than the ty|)e, and its form nigrescens has the glumes darker in colour and the 

 dorsal nerves and awn reddish 



