PLATE 61.—ACIPHYLLA HOOKERI. 
Famity UMBELLIFER.] [Genus ACIPHYLLA, Forst. 
Aciphylla Hookeri, T. Kirk, Students’ Fl. 209; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 210. 
The subject of this plate is one of the most remarkable species of a very 
remarkable genus. It was first discovered by Mr. J. Dall, well known for his 
botanical explorations in the Collingwood district, in the high mountainous country 
near the source of the Heaphy River, which, rising on the western side of the 
watershed behind Collingwood, flows in a south-westerly direction until it enters 
the sea no great distance to the north of Karamea. In all probability it 
extends southwards on the summits of the coastal ranges; for Mr. Townson, 
when investigating the vegetation of the vicinity of Westport, found it to be 
not uncommon on the Brunner and Paparoa Mountains, at an elevation of 
from 2,500 ft. to 4,000 ft. It is specially plentiful on Mount Faraday and 
Mount Buckland, from whence Mr. Townson obtained the specimens used in 
the preparation of this plate. 
A. Hookeri is a very distinct species, quite unlike any other. It can be 
recognized at a glance by the short flat squarrose ultimate segments of the 
leaf, which are flat or concave above, but keeled beneath, and which give the 
tips of the leaves a curious trifid appearance quite foreign to the rest of the 
genus. Probably its nearest relative is A. Lyallii; but that species has much 
longer and narrower leaf-segments, which are never squarrose, as in A. Hookeri. 
In addition to that, the whole aspect of the two plants is different. 4. Hookeri 
should therefore be regarded as an unusually isolated form of the genus, restricted 
to a limited district in the north-west portion of the South Island. Its 
geographical area almost exactly corresponds with that of Drimys Traversii, 
Metrosideros Parkinsoni, and Gentiana Spenceri, three equally distinct and 
remarkable plants. 
Prate 61. Aciphylla Hookeri, drawn from specimens collected on Mount Buckland, near West- 
port, at an altitude of 4,000 ft. Fig. 1, tip of leaflet (enlarged); 2, flower (x 8); 3, the same with 
the petals removed (x 10); 4 and 5, front and back view of anthers (x 10); 6, fruit (x5); 7, single 
carpel (x 5); 8, transverse section of carpel (x 5). 
