434 Transactions.—Botany. 
in which it was found cannot be said to be one in which new introductions 
would be sought for, or even expected. In any case, whether native or 
naturalized, its occurrence in New Zealand is remarkable. 
Juncus tenuis can be distinguished from any of the New Zealand species 
by its slender, wiry culms, 12-18 inches high, leafy at the base only; short, 
channelled, almost setaceous and flaccid leaves; open terminal panicles ; 
and lanceolate acute perianth segments, which are one-third longer than 
the broadly ovoid obtuse capsules. 
Agr. LXVIIL.—Notice of the Occurrence of the Genus Kyllinga in New 
Zealand. By T. F. Cuensemay, F.L.S. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 18th November, 1878.] 
Mz. Tuos. Barr, of Mongonui, bas kindly forwarded to me for determination 
some specimens of a sedge which I identify with Kyllinga monocephala, 
Rottb., a species of wide distribution in tropical regions, but not hitherto 
recorded from any part of New Zealand. Mr. Ball informs me that the 
plantis abundant in some marshy ground on the north side of Mongonui 
harbour, but has not been noticed by him elsewhere in the district. So far 
as I can judge from the information supplied to me, the plant appears to 
be truly indigenous ; indeed, it is precisely one of those species which might 
naturally be expected to occur in the northern extremity of the island, not 
yet completely explored in a botanical point of view. Its existence there 
is quite in harmony with what we know of plant distribution in New 
Zealand, there being several tropical forms confined to the distriet between 
Whangaroa and the North Cape, as Hibiscus diversifolius, Cassytha paniculata, 
and Zpomea tuberculata. 
Kyllinga ean be distinguished from the other genera of Cyperacee 
indigenous to New Zealand by the compressed one-flowered spikelets, 
densely clustered in globose, usually solitary heads, surrounded by a leafy 
involucre. The following description will enable the species to be recog- 
nised :— 
Kyllinga monocephala, Rottb. 
Rhizome creeping; culms erect, 8-12 inches high, leafy at the base 
only; leaves narrow linear, flat, scabrid towards the points; involucre 
8-4-leaved, spreading. Heads solitary, globose, pale; spikelets compressed, 
1-flowered ; two lower glumes minute, two upper nearly equal, ovate-lanceo- 
late, sharply keeled, mucronate, about 7-nerved; stamens 2; nut broadly 
ovate, finely punctate, much shorter than the glumes ; style 2-fid. 
