564 



A FEW NOTES ON THE BOTANY OF LORD HOWE ISLAND. 



(Sixth paper.*) 



Br J. H. Maidex^ I.S.O., F.R.S., F.L.S., Government Botanist and 

 Director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney. 



Since the publication of my last paper, the following have appeared : — 



1. "A revised list of Norfolk Island flora, with some notes on the species," 

 by Robert M. Laiug. Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlvii., 1915. 



2. "The vegetation and flora of Lord Howe Island," by W. R. B. Oliver, 

 Trans. N.Z. Inst., xlix, 1917, 94. Free access was given Mr. Oliver to the Lord 

 Howe and Norfolk Islands collections in the National Herbarium, Sydney, when 

 he was preparing his paper. 



Mr. J. L. Boorm.an paid a \-isit to Lord Howe Island from February to 

 April of the present year, on business of the Board of Control of tlie Island, and 

 took the opportunity of making botanical collections for the National Herbaiium, 

 Sydney. 



The vast majority of the plants he brought have already l)een recorded, but 

 the following presumably indigenous species are believed to be new records : — 



1. Malcastnim tricuspidatum A. Gray. 2. Erythraea cmstralis R.Br. 



I am aware that there may be a difference of opinion as to whether they 

 are truly indigenous, judging from observations in regard to the Norfolk Island 

 flora (see Laing). 



He collected Mesembryanthemum australe Sol., recorded by Oliver, p. 137; 

 also Kyllinga monocephala Rottb. (Oliver, p. 128). 



Messrs. H. T. Wilson and E. King brought specimens of Adiantuin for- 

 mosum R.Br, (name confirmed by Mr. T. Whitelegge) from the south-^est 

 slope of the Island, locally known as the "Little Slope," near the salt water. 

 "Grows 2 ft. 6 inches, and very strong, and not noticed before." This fern does 

 not appear to liave been previously recorded from the Island. 



Mr. Boorman brought specimens of a variegated Palm, and in view of the 

 fact that variegation is not a common chai-aeter in the Family, it is worthy of 

 record. The plant is Howea Forsteriana Becc, and a pleasing parallel variega- 

 tion extends throu'j:hout the plant, affecting both rachises and leaflets. The 

 tree (the only one on the Island), is about 30 feet high,, and i)rol)ably 30 or 40 

 years of age. It is growing at Erskine Valley, near the Burnt Hut. 



•Previous reference, These Proceedings, xxxix., 1914, p.377. 



