PLATE 47.—LEPTOSPERMUM SINCLAIRII. 
Famity MYRTACE/..] [Genus LEPTOSPERMUM, Forsr. 
Leptospermum Sinclairii, 7. Kirk, Students’ Fl. 158; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 161. 
The first mention of this somewhat critical species that I am acquainted with 
is in Mr. Kirk’s paper on the “ Botany of the Great Barrier Island ” (Trans. N.Z. 
Inst. 1 (1869), 146), where he refers to it under the name of Leptospermum ericoides 
var. pubescens, saying that it is “a prostrate or subprostrate shrub, some- 
times 3ft. high, at others appressed to the rock, like an alpine plant; leaves 
more or less pubescent and ciliated; flowers fragrant, produced in immense 
profusion, sometimes concealing the leaves; pedicels and calyx downy. This 
would make a valuable bedding plant for the culturist. It was originally observed on 
the island by the late Dr. Sinclair, but I am not aware of its occurrence elsewhere.” 
In 1887, and again in 1889, I observed the same plant on the Three Kings Islands, 
but so far it has not been seen in any other localities. Its distinguishing 
characters, such as they are, lie in the smaller size, broader and flatter silky-hoary 
leaves, larger flowers, longer pedicels, and much more deeply sunk capsules. It 
must be admitted, however, that the plant is very near to small states of L. ericoides, 
which, as every New Zealand botanist knows, is an exceedingly variable plant 
responding very readily to changes in its environment. I cannot avoid the 
suspicion that the separation of our plant as a species will not be maintained. 
In the Great Barrier Island L. Sinclairii principally occurs on rocky peaks, 
and is usually prostrate, or nearly so. On the Three Kings Islands I observed it 
mainly on declivities leading down to the cliffs on the northern side of the Great 
King. In this situation it was suberect, and the leaves were slightly narrower than 
in the Barrier plant. Both forms agreed in the immense profusion with which the 
flowers were produced, and in their delicious fragrance. 
Puate 47. Leptospermum Sinclairii, dvawn from specimens collected on the Great Barrier Island 
by Mr. T. Kirk. Fig. 1, leaves; 2 and 3, flowers; 4, section of flower. with the stamens removed: 
5 and 6, front and back view of anthers; 7, ripe fruit ; 8, the same with a portion of the calyx removed ; 
9, longitudinal section of fruit; 10, seed. (All enlarged.) 
