1 84 Transactions. — Bntan;/ . 



although a few brown scales are found at the lower part of the 

 stem, and a bract at the base of each flower. The seeds are very 

 small, and produced in great abundance; when germinating they 

 do not rise above the soil, but at once attack the root-fibres of 

 a suitable host plant, and soon become parasitic on the root. 

 When shrubs are attacked the Orobanchc may be perennial, as the 

 shrub is but slightly affected in proportion to its bulk ; but 

 herbaceous plants are speedily exhausted, even red clover being 

 unable to sustain the constant drain upon its resources beyond 

 the second year. 



Clover Broom-rape. 



Orobanche minor, Sutt. 



This appeared on red clover, near Cambridge, Waikato, in 

 1885, and was seen last year in much greater quantity. I 

 observed from three to six stems, 9 to 12 inches in height, 

 springing from a single root of clover, so that it is easy to form 

 an idea of its exhausting effects. 



In Europe it is of less frequent occurrence than the clover 

 dodder, and its ravages are less dreaded, but in some seasons 

 they attain serious proportions. 



Its appearance in the Colony is to be deeply regretted. 



Hawk-bit Broom-rape. 

 Orobanche picridis, F. Schultze. 



This species was first observed at Whangarei, about 1867, 

 growing on the roots of cat's-ear {thjpoclurris radicata) ; curiously 

 enough it is more robust in this Colony than in Europe, and 

 varies in height from a few inches to upwards of 2 feet, and 

 occurs in great abundance. It is often the most prominent 

 plant on grass lands about Whangarei, and begins to flower in 

 October. 



Unlike the preceding species, its effects are decidedly bene- 

 ficial, as it invariably destroys the useless cat's-ear, and allows 

 its place to be occupied by grasses or clovers. 



Orobanche picridis has been observed in several parts of the 

 Auckland District and in Nelson, but not, so far as I am aware, 

 in other parts of the Colony; it is nowhere so abundant as in 

 the Whangarei District. 



It is a singular fact that in Europe this species does not 

 attack the cat's-ear, but is restricted to Picris Meracioides. 

 The Picris is not uncommon in the north of New Zealand, but 

 appears to be exempt from the attacks of the parasite, which 

 confines its attention to the unhappy cat's-ear. 



There is reason to think that this species might be used as 

 an esculent, if cooked and served in the same way as asparagus. 

 Two species are eaten in this way in Central Asia and Afghani- 

 stan. 



