4:0 Transaction* . 



The examination of the material available during the preparation of 

 the Manual showed quite clearly that some of the species, as understood 

 by Hooker and others, contained more forms than one. But it was also evi- 

 dent that further information and more copious suites of sj>ecimens were 

 required before reliable conclusions could be reached. Since then I have 

 been able to settle some of the points then left undetermined, and I have 

 also received much entirely new matter from friends. Pending the pre- 

 paration of a revision of the whole of the New Zealand species, which I 

 hope to complete before long, I have drawn up the following notes, which 

 it seems advisable to publish at once, especially as they include descriptions 

 of several new species and varieties. 



A. Kookeri T. Kirk. 



Some time subsequent to the publication of the Manual I was kindly 

 furnished by Mr. Townson with an excellent series of specimens, which lias 

 enabled me to give a plate of the species in the recently issued " Illustra- 

 tions of the New Zealand Flora." Mr. Townson has also supplied me 

 with remarks on its distribution, from which it is evident that it has a wide 

 range on the mountains of north-west Nelson. It probably exists on most 

 of the higher peaks from the sources of the Heaphy and Karamea Eivers 

 southwards along the Mount Rochfort chain, the Lyell and Brunner Moun- 

 tains, and the Paparoa Range. Its altitudinal range is given as 2,500 ft. 

 to nearly 5,000 ft. 



A. indurata Cheesem. n. sp. 



Affinis A. Hooked T. Kirk, a qua differt caule valde majore et robustiore, 

 foliorum segmentis multo longioribus et latioribus, non conspicue squarrosis. 



Caulis robustus, erectus, 3-5-6 dm. altus, 0-75-1-5 cm. diam. Folia 

 radicalia numerosa, 3-4 dm. longa, bipinnata ; pinnis 4-6-jugis, 7-14 cm. 

 longis, trifoliolatis : ultimis segmentis 5-12 cm. longis, 0-5-0-75 cm. latis, 

 linearibus. planis aut leviter concavis, rigidis, coriaceis, acuminatis, apice 

 pungentibus ; marginibus valde incrassatis, serrulatis. Petioli folio 

 aequilongi aut breviores, basi latissime vaginantes, superne rigidi, facie 

 concavi. Bracteae numerosae, basi late vaginantes, apice pinnatae, pinnis 

 anguste linearibus, rigidis, squarrosis, pungentibus. Umbellae numerosae, 

 compositae, in paniculam densum angustum aggregatae. Fructus lineari- 

 oblongus. 



Hob. — South Island : Buller Valley — Mount Lyell and the Brunner 

 Range, 3,000-5,000 ft, ; Paparoa Range— Mount Bovis, alt, 3,000-4,000 ft. ; 

 W. Townson/ 



Root long, stout, tapering, often as thick as the thumb at the 

 top. Stem stout, erect, l£-2 ft. high, |— | in. diameter or more at the 

 base. Radical leaves numerous, 1-1| ft. long, pinnate with most of the 

 pinnae trifoliolate or rarely the lowest again pinnate, the uppermost 

 usually simple; pinnae 4-6 pairs, 3-6 in. long; ultimate segments 2-5 in. 

 l° n g; w~ i m - broad, linear, occasionally squarrose but not conspicuously 

 so, flat or slightly concave, very rigid and coriaceous, gradually narrowed 

 into long rigid and pungent points ; midrib very stout, scaberulous above ; 

 margins much thickened, cartilaginous, rough with minute serrulations. 

 Petiole equalling or shorter than the blade, upper portion rigid and con- 

 cave, below broader and sheathing and less coriaceous. Bracts very 

 numerous, rigid, squarrose and spreading ; the lower ones with a sheathing- 

 base |— J in. broad, tipped with a pinnate leaflet 1-2 in. long ; upper 



