Txomson.—Notes on some Otago Plants. 539 
the sward in many parts was white with its flowers during the months of 
January, February, and March. Last season cattle were not permitted to 
graze on the belt, the grass got full freedom to grow, and as a result I 
sought in vain during the whole summer for a single Gentian flower. No 
doubt if the grass were once more kept down, this plant being bitter and 
untouched by cattle would again appear abundantly. In Stewart Island I 
found Utricularia monanthos on a tract of swampy ground not many feet 
above high-water mark, from which a thick serubby bush had been burned 
off only a few months previously. In no other part did I meet with this 
plant, though it probably occurs in open marshy ground higher up the hills. 
Again, Euphrasia antarctica, formerly occurring sparingly on Flagstaff 
Hill, has within the last year or two overrun the whole southern side of the 
hill; while the cutting down of the bush in the neighbourhood of Dunedin 
has been accompanied by a great increase in the number and variety of the 
species of Erechtites. The following plants are given by Mr Buchanan as 
occurring only in the western region of the Province, but are to be found 
also in the eastern. 
Colobanthus acicularis ; C. subulatus; Metrosideros lucida (Bluff, Nuggets 
and Stewart Island); Ligusticum brevistyle ; Angelica gingidium ; Olearia hec- 
tori (Saddle Hill) ; Brachycome sinclarii (Flagstaff Hill, ete.; Cotula pyreth- 
rifolia (neighbourhood of Dunedin, not uncommon); Raoulia tenuicaulis 
(Otago Peninsula, Waitati, ete.) ; R. glabra (Flagstaff, etc.) ; R. grandiflora 
(summit of Maungatua); Gnaphalium bellidioides; G. luteo-album ; Senecio 
bellidioides; S. lautus ; and S. rotundifolius (Stewart Island). 
Order.— VronaAcEx. 
1, Melicytus macrophyllus (A. Cunn.) 
2. M. lanceolatus (Hook., f.) | Waikari Creek, near Dunedin. 
8. M. lanceolatus, var. 
Leaves, 2-4 inches long, 1-1 inch broad; oblanceolate, acute, very closely 
serrate, slightly coriaceous, on stout petioles 1-3 inch long. Flowers small, 
chocolate-brown, in fascicles of 2-5 on stoutish decurved peduncles, 1-1 inch 
long, bracteate close to the flower. Stigma, 8-fid. 
Waikari Creek and West Taieri Bush. 
I have described the last at some length, as Mr Kirk, to whom I sent a 
specimen, referred it to M. macrophyllus. With due deference to his 
superior judgment, I consider that its general resemblance to M. lanceolatus 
—the shape and texture of its leaves, the appearance of its flowers, and its 
9-fid stigma—warrant me in naming it as above. 
(All the above were collected by Mr. A. Purdie.) 
Mr. Purdie also informs me that M. micranthus occurs in the neighbour- 
hood of Dunedin, but I have seen no specimens. 
