BOTANICA, DISCOVERY. XXXV 
general work on the plant-geography of New Zealand which it is under- 
stood that Dr. Cockayne has in preparation. 
The very important researches made by Professor A. P. W. Thomas 
into the life-history of Phylloglossum, summarised in his “ Preliminary 
Account of the Prothallium of Phylloglossum”’ (Proc. Roy. Soc.. 
Vol. lxix., pp. 285-91) deserve special mention ; as also his suggestiv? 
paper on “The Affinity of T’mesipteris with the Sphenophyllales 
(Iiid., p. 343-50). The more detailed information promised with 
respect to both these communications will be eagerly looked forward 
to by New Zealand botanists. 
During the last five years, Mr. W. Townson, of Westport, has 
diligently explored the greater portion of south-western Nelson, from 
the Mokihinui River southwards to the Grey River, repeatedly ascend- 
ing all the higher peaks of the coast ranges, as Mount Frederic, Mount 
Rochfort, Mount Wiliam, Mount Faraday, Mount Buckland, &c. 
He has also visited the Lyell Mountains, and many of the high peaks 
flanking the Buller Valley, as far up the river as Mount Murchison 
and Mount Owen. Most of this large district had never been carefully 
examined for plants, and Mr. Townson has consequently reaped a 
rich harvest of novelties, most of which are described in this work. 
Among them are Aciphylla Townson, Celmisia dubia, Dracophyllum 
Townson and D. pubescens, Gentiana Townsoni, Veronica divergens 
and V. coarctata, and the interesting new genus of Orchidew which I 
have named in his honour Townsonia. Mr. Townson’s specimens, 
which have been collected with great care and judgment, have been 
mainly forwarded to me for the purposes of this work, and have proved 
of much service in determining many questions relating to the geo- 
graphical range of the species. 
Mr. H. J. Matthews, the present head of the Forestry Department, 
has collected in many parts of the colony, adding largely to our know- 
ledge of the range of the species, and obtaining a few novelties, notably 
the beautiful Ranunculus Matthews, described in the appendix to 
this work. He has also done excellent service in forming an extensive 
collection of living plants in his garden at Dunedin, especially of the 
rarer alpine and subalpine species. If this collection is maintained 
and extended, it will prove invaluable for affording the means of 
leisurely study and comparison in difficult genera like Veronica and 
Celmisia, &c. 
Mr. F. G. Gibbs, of Nelson, has done excellent work during the last 
ten years in the Nelson District, both on the Dun Mountain Range 
and on the chain of mountains extending northwards from Mount 
Arthur to Collingwood. Among his special discoveries are the curious 
Veromca Gibbs, Gentiana vernicosa, Celmisia Gibbsii, &c. 
The Marlborough District has been carefully and closely examined 
by Mr. J. H. Macmahon, who has made several finds of importance, 
especially in the neighbourhood of Mount Stokes. Celmisia Mac- 
