488 Transactions.—Botany. 
C. dissita is undoubtedly one of the most variable species we possess. 
Commencing with the small form found abundantly in mountain swamps, 
and which is often hardly more than 6 or 9 inches high, with narrow 
leaves and three or four short and small spikelets, every step can be 
traced into the tall grassy variety so generally distributed in both low- 
land and upland districts, and which is often more than two feet high, 
with 6-8 loosely placed, often pendulous, spikelets. This again varies 
into the stouter and harsher form hitherto kept distinct under the 
name of C. lambertiana, but which is certainly only entitled to rank as 
a variety—all its differences being those of size and luxuriance, and none 
of them being even tolerably constant. Another curious state, which 
is found in many localities in the Auckland Provincial District, has many of 
the characters of C. lambertiana, but differs in the softer foliage, shorter and 
much paler spikelets, the lowest of which are almost invariably compound, 
and much shorter culms. In the compound spikelets it approaches C. nee- 
siana, but differs altogether in habit and the short stalk to the much larger 
spikelets. O. neesiana is certainly a close ally of C. dissita, but appears to 
be sufficiently distinct in the different habit, numerous male spikelets and 
compound lower female ones on long pendulous stalks. The distinction of 
entire glumes, given by Hooker in the ** Handbook," breaks down when a 
large suite of specimens is examined, the glumes varying in both species 
from quite entire to deeply bifid, and the length of the awn is equally incon- 
stant. i 
82. C. neesiana, Endl. Prodr. Fl. Ins. Norfolk, 24; Boott, IU. Car., 
iv., 186, t. 486; Hook. fil. Handbk. N.Z. Flora, 816. C. solandri, Boott in 
Hook. fil. Fl. Nov. Zeal., i., 284; lll. Car., i., t. 176. 
North Island.—Not uncommon in wooded districts. 
South Island.—Queen Charlotte Sound, Banks and Solander (Hand- 
book); Wangapeka, Upper Wairau and other localities in Nelson, T.F.C. ; 
Banks Peninsula, Armstrong !; Akaroa, 7. Kirk; near Dunedin and on 
Stewart Island, D. Petrie! 
This is principally distinguished from C. dissita by the taller, more 
slender habit; longer culms, often becoming elongated in fruit and pros- 
trate ; more numerous male spikelets (the male spikelets are seldom more 
than one in C. dissita); and by the compound long peduncled lower female 
spikelets. The perigynia and glumes are much alike in both species. 
C. neesiana is found in Norfolk Island, but does not seem to extend into 
Australia or Tasmania, 
83. C, longiculmis, Petrie, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xiv., 868. 
South Island.—Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, D. Petrie! G. M. Thomson! 
T. Kirk! 
