458 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



in those days when hive-bees were rare and humble-bees had not 

 been introduced many flowering plants failed to reproduce them- 

 selves by seed. 



Veronica arvensis, Linn. 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864. Now found abundantly 

 in fields and waste places in all parts of New Zealand. 



Veronica saxatilis, Linn. 



In 1871 Armstrong recorded this species as occurring in Canter- 

 bury. It has not been observed since, and I think the identification 

 is doubtful. 



Veronica serpyllifolia, Linn. 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864. One of the most widely 

 spread and common weeds in all parts of the country. 



Hermann Miiller records Calliphora erythrocephala as sucking the 

 flowers of these plants, which were kept in a room. 



Veronica officinalis, Linn. 



First recorded in Hooker's list in 1864. Kirk, in 1869, expressed 

 the opinion that this was an error in identification, and that perhaps 

 V. serpyllifolia had been mistaken for it. It was later recorded from 

 the Canterbury district by both Armstrong and W. W. Smith. Cheese- 

 man states that the species has not been seen in the North Island, in 

 the locality where it was originally supposed to have been found. 



Veronica Chamtedrys, Linn. 



First recorded in 1870, then in 1917. Found growing among 

 lawn grass in Dunedin by Mrs G. S. Thomson. (The previous occur- 

 rence is referred to under V. Anagallis.) 



Bartsia viscosa, Linn. Tar-weed 



First recorded in 1869 as Rhinanthus crista-galli in Southland by 

 the author; common in Otago in 1875. Reported by Cheeseman in 

 1882 from Helensville; neighbourhood of Auckland, and in great 

 abundance between Pukekohe and Tuakau. 



OROBANCHE^E 



Orobanche minor, Sutt. Broom-rape 



According to the late Mr T. Kirk, var. picridis, F. Schultz., was 

 first observed at Whangarei in 1867, growing on the roots of cat's-ear 

 (Hypochasris radicata). The typical form was first observed on red 

 clover in the Waikato near Cambridge in 1885. It is now well estab- 



