Celmisia.] COMPOSIT2. 311 
A truly noble plant, probably the finest species of the genus. In its most 
luxuriant state it has a short stout stem which with the old leaf-sheaths is 
sometimes as thick as the wrist, and is crowned with numerous spreading and 
erect lanceolate leaves, from among which arise one or several stout scapes, 
bearing heads sometimes more than 3in. diam., with long and narrow rays. 
This passes by almost imperceptible gradations into smaller varieties with 
narrower often less coriaceous leaves and smaller heads, with shorter and pro- 
portionately broader rays. It is difficult to find distinguishing characters 
between some of these forms and C. Monroi and other species. In cultivation it 
varies still more largely, and often produces branched scapes, a peculiarity quite 
unknown in any Celmisia in the wild state, so far as my own observations go. 
Some of the cultivated races appear to be permanent, and Mr. Kirk has briefly 
characterized the following in his ‘‘ Students’ Flora’’: (1) foliosa, with crowded 
foliaceous bracts sometimes Gin. long; (2) corymbifera, with branched scapes, 
the heads forming an open corymb; and (3) ensata, which has ensiform leaves 
8-12in. long and din. wide, and an irregularly branched scape. Mr. H. J. 
Matthews informs me that the last form, which has a very distinct appearance, 
occurs in a wild condition near Lake Harris, Otago, but I have only seen cul- 
tivated specimens. 
26. C. Armstrongii, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvi. (1894) 
969.—Stems short, stout, with the leaf-sheaths sometimes as thick 
as the wrist, crowned with numerous radiating leaves. Leaves 
6-18in. long or more, +~$in. broad, linear-ensiform, gradually 
tapering from below the middle to the acute apex, slightly nar- 
rowed below, rigidly coriaceous, upper surface longitudinally ribbed 
and covered with a delicate silvery pellicle, beneath clothed with 
smooth and satiny appressed tomentum, except the very stout and 
prominent midrib; margins recurved when dry; sheaths long, 
broader than the blade, clothed with snow-white cottony tomen- 
tum. Scapes usually several, as long as or longer than the leaves, 
rather slender, white and cottony; bracts numerous, linear. Head 
J-14in. diam.; involucral bracts linear-subulate, rather rigid, 
glabrous or cottony on the margins, tips recurved. Rays narrow. 
Achene linear, grooved, pubescent.—Kirk, Students’ Fl. 290. 
SourH Istanp: Nelson—Heaphy River, Dall! mountains near Westport, 
Townson! Westland—Arthur’s Pass, Armstrong! Kirk! Cockayne! T. F. C.; 
Kelly’s Hill, Petrie! 2500-4500 ft. December—January. 
Distinguished from C. Lyallii by the broader perfectly straight leaves with 
a stout midrib and satiny appressed tomentum. From C. Monroi it isseparated 
by the more rigid ribbed and pointed leaves and almost glabrous heads. 
27. C. Petriei, Cheesem. n. sp.Apparently a stout tufted 
plant. Leaves 8-18in. long or more, 4-$in. broad, dagger- 
shaped, narrowed into an acuminate rigid and almost pungent 
point, contracted just above the top of the sheath, strict, erect, 
rigidly coriaceous, above perfectly glabrous and when dry marked 
with a stout longitudinal ridge or plait on each side of the middle 
of the leaf, beneath clothed with silvery - white appressed satiny 
tomentum and with two grooves answering to the ridges of the 
upper surface; midrib not evident on either surface; margins con- 
spicuously recurved towards the tip of the leaf, less so or almost 
