eet AT ae, EE dE As, 
BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 299 
thus make all possible use of such facilities as fall in my 
way. 
* | trust that in the box now sent, you will find some 
things both novel and interesting. One new Pine and two 
new Orchidee (not to mention several other plants, so far as 
am aware, hitherto undiscovered and undescribed) have 
amply repaid me for any exertion that I have made on my 
journey. "The greater proportion, however, of the specimens 
now forwarded, are of known and described species. I have 
hazarded, in some cases, the burdening you with triplicates, 
although I cannot say much for their perfectness or beauty. 
* [ have gone regularly through my herbaria, and have 
now the pleasure of sharing their contents with you ; and I 
wish that the receipt of my specimens may give you the 
same gratification as I have myself experienced, in gathering 
and packing them up for you. 
* Among them you will find individuals of all the known 
Conifere and Taxacee of this island, in fruit, except the Da- 
erydium plumosum,* (Don,) which I have not yet myself seen 
in that state. This is rather a scarce Pine in this neighbour- 
hood ; inhabiting generally, though very sparingly, the ridges 
of the highest hills. I had made several journies before I 
could meet with a single tree of this species, and such as I 
have subsequently seen were not in fructification. It is, 
indeed, a very difficult matter to obtain a good specimen from 
any of the Pine Tribe, owing to the height and situation of 
the fruit-bearing branches of these Monarchs of the Forest. 
* Dr. Lindley gives, as an essential character of Taxacee, 
— Ovules naked, their outer skin becoming finally hard ; seed 
hard, either altogether hard, or surrounded by a succulent cup- 
shaped pericarp ; —trees or shrubs, with continuous wnarticu- 
lated branches’ If these be the real characters of all the 
plants of this Order, I presume that some, at least, of the 
New Zealand species, must be formed into a new order. 
For Podocarpus ferruginea bears a large and fleshy drupe, and 
* Fruit of this has recently been brought home by Mr. Edgerley, which 
proves to be that of a Thuja, as might almost be inferred pui the foliage. 
z 
