Kirk. — On some Species of Carex. 449 



tity, and extends over several acres. About six years ago 

 the habitat was fenced in, so that the vegetation has not been 

 so closely cropped by wandering cattle as formerly, when the 

 growth of herbage was rendered almost impossible. Now, 

 however, the paddocks being but moderately stocked, several 

 native plants which were formerly rare in this locality are 

 to be found in abundance. Amongst them ScJuenus nitens, 

 Hook, f., may be specially mentioned, as it is almost as plentiful 

 as the Carex with which it is associated, although for many 

 years previous to the enclosure it was so extremely rare that 

 not more than one or two stray specimens could be detected 

 during the season. The grass is " self-sown," the seeds having 

 been deposited by cattle, so that it is extremely difficult to 

 account for the introduction of the Carex ; but it can scarcely 

 be supposed that a plant generally distributed through Europe, 

 North Africa, and Siberia would be restricted to a single 

 habitat in New Zealand if really indigenous in the Southern 

 Hemisphere. 



The following description will enable New Zealand botanists 

 to recognize this species should it be found in other lo- 

 calities. 



C. glatica, Scop. 



A grassy, soboliferous species. Culms 6in.-18in. high, 

 rather slender. Leaves erect or recurved, Jin. -fin. broad, 

 flat, glaucous, shorter than the culms. Spikelets 4-6, upper 

 8 male, female erect or nodding, iin.-ljin. long, with male 

 flowers at the top, cylindrical, slender or stout, pedicels usually 

 short. Glumes ovate, acute, with green midrib ; perigynia 

 obovoid or elliptic, slightly rough, exceeding the glumes. 

 Stigmas, 3. 



Carex muricata, Linn. 



A plant doubtfully identified with this species owing to the 

 immaturity of the specimens is recorded by Mr. Cheeseman 

 from Mount Owen, in the Nelson District, where it grows at 

 an altitude of 4,000ft. Mr. J. Rutland, to whom I am greatly 

 indebted for much information respecting the plants of the 

 Marlborough District, has recently sent specimens of the large 

 form of this species known as C. contigiia, Hoppe, from a grass- 

 paddock near Havelock ; but it is to be feared that, although 

 it has even a wider distribution in the Northern Hemisphere 

 than the preceding species, it can scarcely be considered indi- 

 genous to New Zealand. 



Carex leporina, Linn. 



This species has been recorded by Mr. Cheeseman from 

 several localities in the Nelson District, and was discovered 

 by the writer at Ohariu, about fifteen miles from Wellington. 

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