260 Transactions. — Botany. 



My specimens do not show any instance in which the style 

 in the proper staminate plant is bent on one side and pro- 

 truded beyond the anthers, as is the case in the large-flowered 

 forms of P. prostrata. 



The remarkable dimorphism of the flowers in this genus 

 has long been observed, but is not yet fully understood ; it is 

 occasionally correlated with slight differences in the habit and 

 leaves of the plant, so that the different sexes in certain 

 localities may be distinguished at sight over large areas. 

 This was first observed at Great Omaha in 1864, when I for- 

 warded specimens of P. arenaria showing this feature to Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, who was greatly interested in the pheno- 

 menon, although unable to account for it at that time. In 

 many localities, however, there is no obvious difference 

 between the staminate and pistillate flowers except the 

 smaller size of the latter ; and at present it is not proved 

 that the occasional difference in habit and foliage is perma- 

 nent, although its occurrence over large areas is certainly 

 striking. I have never met with true hermaphrodite speci- 

 mens; in all forms with perfect anthers the stigma is invariably 

 glabrous and abortive so far as my observations extend, but it 

 must be admitted that wider observation is necessary. 



It affords me great pleasure to connect the name of the 

 Eight Eev. Dr. Suter with this species, and to acknowledge 

 the help he has frequently rendered in forwarding specimens 

 of various New Zealand plants. 



Abt. XXIII. — Description of Netu Cyperaceous Plants, chiefly 

 from the Nelson Provincial District. 



By T. KiEK, F.L.S. 



\Rcad before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 21st Febniary, 



1894.] 



Eleocharis neo-zelandica, C. B. Clarke, MS. 



A small species with short creeping rhizomes ; culms lin.- 

 2in. high, striate spreading, sheath membranous, mouth 

 oblique, mucronate ; spike broadly - ovate ^-in. long, glumes 

 ovate, obtuse, almost keeled, midrib stout, not extending to 

 the apex, margins membranous ; stamens 3, bristles 0, style- 

 arms 2. Nut broadly pyriform, slightly convex, or almost 

 plano-convex, smooth. 



Hab. South Island : Cape Farewell, Nelson (1884). T. K. 



Mr. Clarke, who has for some years been engaged on a 



