194 Transactions. 



3-4 cm. broad at the base. The secondary segments are pinnately rather 

 than ternately subdivided, and are also more or less triangular in outline. 

 The ultimate divisions are linear, obtuse, 2-3 mm. long, and about 1 mm. 

 broad. At Mount Somers the plant flowered in September, while the 

 leaves were still unfolded and closely appressed to the shingle.* The scape 

 is short, 1-2 cm. long ; flowers 2-3 cm. in diameter. Sepals (5) oblong, 

 inbricate in the bud, pale cream, truncate, 8-10 mm. long, tinged on the 

 under-surface with pale brown. Petals (5) cuneate, slightly emarginate, 

 yellow above, streaked with brown below, with a single large glandular 

 pit at the base of each. When the flower is fully expanded the petals are 

 remote, and admit the full breadth of the sepals between them. Stamens 

 numerous, filaments short, about half the length of the petals. The turgid 

 achenes, about 12-20 in number, form a rounded head 8-10 mm. in 

 diameter. All parts of the flower are quite glabrous. 



Though no original specimens have been seen, the identity of the plant 

 with that of Travers can scarcely be doubted. I have deposited a specimen 

 in Canterbury Museum. 



Art. XXVII.— On the Flora of the Mangonui County. 



By H. Carse. 



[Bead before the Auckland Institute, 22nd November, 1910.] 



The County of Mangonui is situated in the extreme north of the Auckland 

 Provincial District. It lies between 34° 20' and 35° 20' south latitude, 

 and consists of a long narrow peninsula stretching north-west known as 

 the North Cape Peninsula, and a southern portion more or less oblong in 

 shape. The peninsula is about fifty miles in length, and from five to ten 

 miles across. The lower portion is about forty miles from east to west, and 

 averages about sixteen miles from north to south. 



" The first person to explore the district from a natural-history point 

 of view was the veteran botanist Mr. Colenso, who in 1839 travelled from 

 Kaitaia northwards to Cape Maria van Diemen, and from thence to the 

 Keinga, Spirits Bay, and the North Cape. During this journey he collected 

 several of the plants peculiar to the district, notably Hibiscus diversifolius 

 and Lycopodium Drumm.ondii, the last of which has not been refound.f 

 In 1840-41 Dr. Dieflenbach, the naturalist to the New Zealand Company, 

 made an exploration of the country to the north of the Bay of Islands. He 



* Since writing the above I have seen specimens of the flower in Dr. CockajTie's 

 garden in Christchurch. On my return to Christchurch last January I gave him one 

 or two living plants of B. crifhmifolius. These have grown quite readily in ordinary 

 soil at the low altitude of Christchurch. The leaves are less appressed to the surface of 

 the ground and the scapes are much longer than in the specimen grown by Mr. Wilkinson. 



t Since refound b}' Mr. H. B. Matthews. 



