368 : T'ransactions.— Botany. 
Rumex pulcher, L. 
The fiddle-dock occurs in great abundance on the formation of new 
streets, etc., especially in the Te Aro side of the city, but soon becomes 
comparatively rare. It seems probable that it was one of the earliest plants 
naturalized here, but that it partially died out, its buried seeds retaining 
their vitality. 
Sisyrinchium chilense, Hook. 
A pleasing addition to our naturalized flora, abundant on the hills about 
Wellington and other places. Apparently restricted to this district. 
Iris pseudacorus, L. 
The yellow flag or French lily is another welcome addition, probably 
planted in a tributary of the Waiwetu. 
Agrostis alba, L., B. stolonifera. 
Fiorin grass: a useful addition to dur naturalized economie plants, from 
its affording a supply of herbage early and late in the season on cold clay 
soils. 
Glyceria fluitans, Br. 
A valuable grass spreading rapidly in wet places, and affording a large 
supply of nutritious herbage, especially grateful to horses. The seeds form 
a large part of the food of the trout in Europe, and in seasons of scarcity 
have been ground and made into bread. 
Briza maxima, L. 
An elegant grass abundantly naturalized on the hills about Wellington, 
but of trivial economie value. Dr. Curl, to my great surprise, advocates its 
cultivation, but its brief period of duration completely deprives it of value to 
the agriculturist. 
This and the two preceding species are more abundant about Wellington 
than in any other locality in the colony. 
Lepturus, sp. 
A remarkable plant naturalized on shingly beaches, and distinguished 
by its flattened rachis. I have not been able to identify it with any species 
of which I possess descriptions, but can hardly doubt its being of exotic 
origin. 
Anthistiria australis, Br. 
_ In 1874 I observed the kangaroo grass growing on sandy soil in the 
Lower Rangitikei, and subsequently ascertained that it had been sown in 
the vicinity some years before, and was supposed to have died out; recently 
it was pointed out to me on Mount Victoria by one of the students of 
Wellington College. It is a valuable and nutritious grass, but cannot be 
expected to maintain its ground unless allowed to seed freely, 
A SN 
