Pktiue. — Desmpfion of New Nafivr Plid/irroi/aiiis. 255 



longer ; pinnae linear, short, rather remote, entire, acuminate, with thick- 

 ened margins and subrigid piuigent tips. Sheaths short, thin, broadly 

 obcuneate, not produced into lateral spines. 



Inflorescence shorter than the culm, subflexuous, broadly ovate ; bracts 

 leaflike, with broad compressed sheaths + 2 cm. long ; the segments of 

 the lower bracts more or less pinnatisect, those of the upper entire or slightly 

 cut. Primary peduncles longer than the sheaths, the secondary short. 



Fruits + 3 inm. long, elliptic, 3-5 winged. 



Hab. — End Peak, Lake Hauroko. 



I have seen only three specimens of this very distinct plant, collected 

 by Mr. J. Crosby Smith, F.L.S. One bears no fruit, and may be a stami- 

 nate plant ; the others are pistillate, but few ripe carpels are left on them. 



3. Gentiana flaccida sp. nov. 



Herba perennis, gracilis, flaccida, indivisa, erecta, + 10 cm. alta. 



Folia radicalia numerosa, 2-3 cm. longa, tenuia, obovato - spatulata, 

 gradatim in petiolos latiores per-flaccidos lamina duplo longiores attenuata. 

 Folia caulina radicalibus similia, petiolis brevioribus, superiora acuta in 

 paribus oppositis disposita. 



Flos terminalis, solitarius, grandis, ad 2 cm. longus. 



A slender flaccid apparently perennial herb, not branched, erect, + 10 cm. 

 high ; root rather stout. 



Radical leaves numerous, 2-3 cm. long, thin, obovate-spathulate, 

 gradually narrowed into rather broad flaccid petioles twice as long as the 

 blades. Cauline leaves similar to the radical, but with shorter petioles or 

 almost sessile ; the upper in opposite pairs, the topmost pair acute. 



Flower solitary, terminal, + 2 cm. long. Calyx green, divided for three- 

 quarters its length into thin linear acute lobes with an evident midrib. 



Stamens as long as the calyx ; pistil rather longer. 



Fruit not seen. 



Hab. — End Peak, Lake Hauroko. 



I have seen only a single specimen of this plant, but it is so clearly dis- 

 tinct from any of its native congeners that I feel little hesitation in describ- 

 ing it. It is, of course, uncertain if the specimen I have seen represents 

 the typical form of the plant. Its nearest ally is G. lineata T. Kirk, a plant 

 that was first collected by myself on Stewart Island in 1877. The present 

 species was collected by Mr. J. Crosby Smith, F.L.S. 



4. Euphrasia australis sp. nov. 



Herba tenuis, subrigida, parce foliosa, ad 8 cm. alta, sparse pubescens, 

 a basi ramosa ; rami laterales parce subdivisi. Folia in paribus oppositis 

 remotis disposita, suborbicularia, crassiuscula, basi subito contracta. 



Flores majusculi, axillares, pedunculati, plerumque in paribus oppositis 

 dispositi, albidi ; pedunculi foliis subduplo longiores, maturi ad 1| cm. 

 attinentes. 



Capsula calyce persistente brevior, late obovato-cuneata. 



A slender, rather rigid, sparingly leafy herb, 8 cm. high or less, sparsely 

 pubescent wuth short white hairs, branched from the base, branches 

 sparingly subdivided. 



Leaves in distant opposite pairs, suborbicular, suddenly contracted 

 into a very short petiole, rather coriaceous, apparently glabrous, recurved 



