PLATE 106.—COTULA ATRATA. 
Famity COMPOSIT. | [Genus COTULA, Tourn. 
Cotula atrata, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 142; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 352 
Under Plates 18 (Stellaria Roughit) and 66 (Ligusticum carnosulum) I have 
made some brief observations on that remarkable association of remotely 
allied plants found on the shingle-slopes that are so common on the flanks 
of the higher mountain-ranges of the South Island. The subject of the 
present plate is one of the species absolutely confined to slopes of moving 
shingle, and has the greyish-green colour, depressed habit, and tortuous 
rhizome with long stringy roots possessed by most of the plants found in 
such a habitat. 
C. atrata was originally discovered by Dr. Sinclair on shingle-slopes at 
Tarndale, near the source of the Wairau River, Nelson; and shortly afterwards 
was collected in the same district (Wairau Gorge) by Mr. W. T. L. Travers. 
Mr. T. Kirk and myself both found it not uncommon on the mountains 
flanking the Clarence Valley, from Jollie’s Pass to Lake Tennyson ‘and the 
Spenser Mountains. Sir Julius von Haast, during his explorations in the Alps of 
Canterbury, found the plant to be fairly plentiful; and it has also been 
observed by Mr. J. B. Armstrong, Mr. J. D. Enys, and most recent botanists. 
In Otago it appears to be rare, the only localities yet recorded being Mount 
Kyeburn and Mount St. Bathans, where it was collected many years ago by 
Mr. Petrie. I am not aware of any locality for the species on the western 
side of the Alps. As for its altitudinal range, it ascends to 6,500 ft. on 
Mount Enys, near the sources of the Broken River, and I have seen it as low as 
3,500 ft. in the Clarence Valley. 
C. atrata is not closely allied to any other species. Its stout pubescent 
habit and greyish-green colour, much divided leaves, robust leafy peduncles, 
and large black or brownish- yellow heads are prominent characters, and will 
enable it to be recognized with: the utmost ease. 
Prate 106. Cotula atrata, drawn from specimens gathered by Mr. F. G. Gibbs on shingle-slopes 
on Mount Arthur, Nelson, at an altitude of 5,000 ft. Fig. 1, section of receptacle, with the involucral 
bracts surrounding it (x3); 2, two papillae from the disc of the receptacle, showing the foveolate 
apex (x 10); 3, pinnatifid bract from the involucre (x 8); 4, linear-obovate and entire bract from 
the involucre (x 8); 5, floret with deformed corolla (x 8); 6, hermaphrodite or sterile floret (x 8) ; 
7, anthers from same (x 10); 8, style from same (x 10); 9, fertile floret (x 8). 
