Plate 233.— FESTUCA OVINA, vak. NOV.E-ZEALANDlyE. 



Family GRAMINE^.] [Genus FESTUCA, Linn. 



Festuca ovina, Linn., var. nov;o-zealandia), Hack, in Trans. N.Z. hist, xxxv (1903), 381 ; 

 Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 917. 



In the " Flora Novae Zelandiaj," and again in the " Handbook," Sir .J. D. Hook(;r 

 united under the name of Festuca duriuscula all the New Zealand Festucce which 

 partook of the characters of F. ovina, F. duriuscula, and F. rubra, and for manv 

 years this view was followed by New Zealand botanists. In 1903, however, the 

 well-known agrostologist, Professor E. Hackel, after a careful study of a large series 

 of specimens, came to the conclusion that the true F. duriuscula did not exist in 

 an indigenous state in New Zealand, and that the majority of Hooker's Festucce 

 were referable to F. rubra. Two varieties, however, he placed under F. ovina, one 

 of them being the subject of this plate. 



F. ovina differs from F. rubra in not possessing creeping stolons, in the 

 innovation-shoots being intravaginal, and in the ligules being biauricled. The 

 variety novce-zealandiw, figured herewith, is separated from the type by the peculiar 

 tussocky habit, more scabrid leaves, and by the rather larger spikelets. Professor 

 Hackel states that its nearest ally is the European variety Beckeri, which is unknown 

 to me. 



My specimens of var. novw-zealandice were gathered many years ago on Mount 

 Torlesse, in Canterbury, where it was not uncommon at an elevation of about 

 3,000 ft. I have also seen it in the Clarence Valley, and I have specimens collected 

 by Mr. Petrie in several localities in Central Otago. It is quite possible that it may 

 have a wide range in mountain districts, for it is by no means easy to distinguish 

 it, without close examination, from tussocky forms of F. rubra. 



PixiTE 233. Festuca ovina, var. novw-zealandicB, drawn from specimeu.s collected on Mount Torlesse, 

 Canterbury, at an altitude of 3,000 ft. Fig. 1, ligule of leaf ( x 4) ; 2, spikclet (x4); 3, spikelet 

 spread out { x 4) ; 4, outer glume ( x 6) ; 5, inner glume ( x 6) ; 6, flower { x 6) ; 7, flowering-glume 

 ( X 6) ; 8, palea ( x 6) ; 9, lodicules ( x 8) ; 10, anther ( x 8) ; 11, ovary and styles ( x 8). 



