Platk 130.— DRACOPHYLLUM TOWNSONI. 



Family EPACRIDACE^.] [Genus DRACOPHYLLUM, Labill. 



Dracophyllum Townsoni, Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 420. 



The subject of this plate commemorates the name of Mr. W. Townson who 

 tor several years assiduously explored the vegetation of the north-western portion 

 ot the bouth Island, from the Karamea River southwards to Greymouth, and inland 

 along the course of the Buller River to Mount Mantell, Mount Murchison, and 

 Mount Owen. Much ot this large district had never been closely botanized, and 

 Mr. lownson consequently secured a rich harvest of novelties. Among these mav 

 be mentioned Ac;,phj/Ua Townsoni (Plate 62 of this work), Cdmisia duhia, Draco- 

 phyUum pubescens, Gentiana Townsoni (Plate 139), Veronica diverqens (Plate 148) 

 Veronica coarctata, and Townsonia deflexa (Plate 198). 



Dracophylbmi Townsoni was obtained on the foothills and terraces at the base 

 ot Mount Buckland the northern termination of the chain of the Paparoa Mountains 

 and which overlooks the well-known Buller Gorge. It is by no means abundant' 

 but occurs sporadically from about 500 ft. to 2,500 ft. elevation So far it has 

 not been founcl in any other locality, although it probably extends southwards into 

 the Westland Provincial District, the flora of which is very imperfectly known 



According to its discoverer, D. Townsoni forms a small branching tree 10 ft 

 to 20 ft. in height, with its branches conspicuously ringed with the scars of the fallen 

 leaves Ihe leaves are very similar to those of D. latijolium, and are narrowed 

 mto the same long and sleiider points; but are smaller, seldom exceeding 12 in 

 in length, and narrower at the base. The inflorescence is markedly difterent' 

 consisting of a small curved and drooping panicle 2 in. to Sin. long, placed on the 

 branch just below the leaves. The flowers, which according to Mr. Townson are 

 decidedly tcetid, are rather small, being about i in. long ; and the capsules are 

 about I in. in diameter. ^ 



The nearest ally of our plant is undoubtedly D. Menziesii, which has the same 

 lateral drooping panicle and a very similar habit of growth. But D. Menziesii is a 

 much smaller plant, often reduced to a foot or two in height ; the leaves are shorter 

 and broader, and more cartilaginous ; and the flowers are altogether different being 

 almost twice the size, with a much larger corolla, the lobes of which are not more 

 than a quarter the length of the tube, whereas in D. Townsoni the lobes are half 

 the length of the tube or nearly so. I entertain no doubt as to the specific 

 distinctness of the two plants. 



Plate 130. pmcophyllum Townsoni, drawn from specimens collected by Mr. Townson on Mount 

 Buckland, near the mouth of the Buller R.ver. F.g. 1, portion of margin of leaf (x 5) 2, Ze 

 (x5); 3, longitudmal section of corolla (x5); 1 anther (x5); 5, ovary, with the hypogynous 

 scales ormmg a cup-shaped disc (x5); 6, the .same with the scales di.stiuct (x5); 7, section of 

 ovary (x 8) ; 8, fruit (x 5) ; 9, seed (x 5). v •^; > '> seowon or 



