Prrr1.—On Olearia hectori. 398 
Carex dissita, Sol. Karaka Creek. 
» gaudichaudiana, Kunth. Tairua landing. 
Hierochloe redolens, Br. Kerikeri. 
Zoysia pungens, Will. Puru. 
Glyceria stricta, Hook. f. Piako Towers. 
Gymnostichum gracile, Hook. f. Piako Towers. 
Gleichenia dicarpa, Br. Table Mountain. 
Adiantum athiopicum, Linn, Kopu. 
Lindsea viridis. Tararu Creek. 
Aspidium aculeatum, Swartz. Kaueranga. 
i capense. Kaueranga. 
Nothochlena distans, Br. Kaueranga. 
Schizea dichotoma, Swartz. Pepe, Tairua. 
Marattia fraxinea, Smith. Tararu Creek. 
Phylloglossum drummondii, Kunze. Kerikeri. 
Azolla rubra, Br. Kopu. 
Art. XL.—Notice of Olearia hectori, Hook. f. By D. Perrie, M.A. 
[Read before the Otago Institute, 13th November, 1883.] 
Ax imperfect notice of this species is to be found in Hooker's ** Handbook 
of the Flora of New Zealand." ‘The specimens, from which the description 
was drawn up, appear to have shown neither flowers nor fruit. As the 
plant is one of singular interest, I have thought it worth while to direct at- 
tention to it, and to make out a full description. 
Few of the shrubs indigenous to New Zealand are more worthy of culti- 
vation than this. When fairly grown it bears great numbers of very sweetly 
scented flower-heads. The heads, which are grouped in fascicles, have a 
yellow tint, but are not large or conspicuous, rarely exceeding the size of a 
hazel-nut. The odour, which is singularly powerful and very agreeable 
without being cloying, strongly resembles that of mellow ripe peaches. In 
this respect the plant is in no way inferior to many exotics that are culti” 
vated with great care for their delicate scent. The shrub grows to a con- 
siderable size, sometimes forming a small tree of 3 or 4 inches in diameter. 
Such large specimens are, however, rare, and evidently of great age. The 
common forms are small compact graceful bushes, with very numerous 
tortuous branches and twigs and light or greyish-green foliage. It is ever- 
green, and as an ornamental shrub yields to few of our natives. It grows 
naturally in rich black soil and in dry situations. Near the coast I have 
