Currseman.—Additions to the New Zealand Flora. 418 
Hab. Mountains flanking the Wairau Valley, Nelson; alt. 8,000—4,000 
feet. 
The habit of this species is that of small and fine leaved specimens of 
C. breviculmis, from which, however, it differs widely in other respects. 
From the preceding species, and from C. cirrhosa, it differs in the much 
more slender culms and leaves, smaller spikelets, and in the perigynia being 
trigonous and almost fusiform ; or, to take a familiar example, very near to 
those of C. lucida in shape. y 
7. Carex petriei, n. 
Culms slender or rather stout, tufted, s 6-18 inches high, quite 
smooth, usually of a reddish colour. Leaves generally longer than the 
culms, with broad sheathing bases, blade usually narrow, but variable in 
width, 4-75 inch, plano-convex or nearly flat, in stout specimens strict 
and coriaceous, in slender ones more flaccid, narrowed into slender points 
that are usually curled and twisted when dry; margins slightly scabrid. 
Bracts long, upper setaceous. Spikelets 3-5, oblong, 4-4 inch long, all 
pedunculate and sheathed, the upper ones on very short stalks, the lower 
ones on longer filiform ones; terminal one male, remainder all female, 
moderately close together, or rarely the lower one remote. Glumes ovate, 
thin and membranous, pale, often nearly white, midrib produced into a 
moderately long hispid awn; margins often lacerate. Perigynia longer 
than the glumes, elliptic-oblong or ovoid, turgid, biconvex, smooth and 
nerveless, shining, dark purplish-brown or nearly black, beak short, 2- 
toothed. Stigmas 3. 
Hab. Mountains of Canterbury, apparently not uncommon between 
2,500 and 4,500 feet: T.F.C. Dunstan Mountains, Lake Wanaka, and 
near Naseby, Otago: D. Petrie. 
Apparently a very distinct species, which, when once recognized, can 
hardly be confounded with any other. The leaves are remarkable for their 
fine curled and twisted points, and very broad sheathing bases. The spike- 
lets have a somewhat curious appearance from the combination of pale 
coloured glumes with dark, almost black, perigynia. The species is named 
after Mr. D. Petrie, of Dunedin, who has collected it in several localities in 
Otago, and to whom 1 am indebted for many specimens and much valuable 
information respecting the Carices of the district. 
