Plate 234— AGROPYRUM ARISTATUM. 



Family GRAMINE^.] [Genus AGROPYRUM, Gaertn. 



Agropyrum aristatum, Cheesem. 



A. Enysii, T. Kirlc in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxvii (1895), 352 ; Vheesem. 3Ia„. N.Z. Fl 922 



Asperella anstata, I'etrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxvi (1894), 272. 



Tins curious species of Agropyrum was originally discovered by Mr. J. D. Enys 

 in the Broken River district, Canterbury Alps, in the year 187?"; and specimens 

 were communicated to Mr. T. Kirk and myself. A few years later Mr. N. Y. 

 Carrmgton collected it in some locality in the Upper Waimakariri district, and 

 about the same time Mr. Kirk gathered it in the Bealey Gorge. In 1883, under 

 the guidance of Mr. Enys, I observed it on the western slopes of Mount Torlesse, 

 and in 1893 Mr. Petrie collected it in the same district. Finally, Dr. Cockayne 

 obtained specimens' in the valley of the Poulter River in 1898. All the above 

 localities lie in the middle and upper part of the basin of the Waimakariri River, 

 and up to the present time the plant has not been found outside that district. Its 

 altitudinal range is between 2,500 ft. and 4,500 ft. 



Agropyrum aristatum was first published by Mr. D. Petrie as a species of 

 Asperella. No doubt he was influenced by the great resemblance which the plant 

 bears to Asperella gracilis, but in all essential characters the plant is a true 

 Agropyrum. Recognizing this fact, Mr. Kirk removed it to that genus ; and, 

 desiring to commemorate the botanical services of its discoverer, proposed that it 

 should bear the name of Agropyrum Enysii. This name I adopted in the Manual ; 

 but, the Vienna Conference having made it obligatory to use the earliest specific 

 name, I am now compelled to revert to the designation first given by Mr. Petrie. 



Agropyrum aristatum is a very distinct species, not at all closely allied to any 

 other. It differs from all the- other New Zealand representatives of the genus in 

 the few-flowered spikelets, to say nothing of the flat membranous leaves and slender 

 spike. It is much too scarce and local to have any economic value. 



Plate 234. Agropyruin aristatum, drawn from specimens collected near the Broken River, Canter- 

 bury Alps. Fig. 1, ligule of leaf (x 3) ; 2, a pair of spikelets (x 3) ; 3, outer glume (x 5) ; 4, flower 

 (x5); 5, flowering-glume (x5); 6, palea ( x 5) ; 7, lodicules, stamens, and ovary (x7); 8, single 

 lodicule (x 10) ; 9, ovary and styles (x 10). 



