PuarE 63._-ACIPHYLLA MONROI. 
Famity UMBELLIFER. | [Genus ACIPHYLLA, Forsr. 
Aciphylla Monroi, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii, 330 ; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 212. 
One of the earliest explorers of the vegetation of the north-eastern portions 
of the South Island was Sir David Monro, who for many years occupied a 
prominent position in the parliamentary life of the colony, ultimately holding 
the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives. How much he did for 
botany in New Zealand can be roughly estimated from the following list of 
prominent species dedicated to him by Sir J. D. Hooker or other botanists: 
Ranunculus Monroi, Carmichelia Monroi, Aciphylla Monroi, Celmisia Monroi, 
Raoulia Monroi, Senecio Monroi, Myosotis Monroi, and Euphrasia Monroi. 
And these names represent only a small portion of the species which he added 
to the flora of his adopted country at various times between the years 185) 
and 1870. 
Aciphylla Monroi, the species figured on this plate, was discovered in the 
year 1853 on the “summit of Macrae’s Run, alt. 4,500 ft.” I am not quite 
certain of the exact position of this locality, but believe it to be in the Awatere 
Valley, in which a tract of pastoral land was held by a Mr. Macrae, many 
portions of which are known to have been frequently botanized over by Monro. 
The species was first published in a list of addenda printed at the close of the 
second volume of the “ Flora Novee Zelandie.” In the ‘* Handbook” Sir J. D. 
Hooker gives several additional localities for the plant, and many others have 
been recorded by subsequent observers. But I have long considered it highly 
doubtful whether the whole of these habitats have been correctly assigned to 
A. Monrov; and Mr. W. B. Hemsley, who has kindly examined the whole of 
the specimens referred to the species in the Kew Herbarium, is of the same 
opinion. Under these circumstances, I have decided to figure Monro’s original 
specimens, preserved at Kew, so that workers in the Dominion may, at any rate, 
be sure of the type of the species. 
From the above it will be readily understood that it is difficult to indicate 
the precise range of A. Monroi, several of the recorded localities being referable 
to forms which in my opinion should be excluded from the species, while in 
other cases I have had no opportunity of examining specimens. It appears to 
be most plentiful on the mountains of Marlborough and Nelson, but I have 
seen examples in several stations in Canterbury, and have reason to believe 
that it also occurs in Otago. 
Puate 63. Aciphylla Monroi, drawn from specimens collected on “ Macrae’s Run” by Sir David 
Monro. Fig. 1, tip of leaflet; 2, bracts; 3, flower; 4, the same with the petals removed ; 5, petal ; 
6 and 7, front and back view of anthers. (All enlarged.) 
