824 Transactions.— Botany. 
Arr. XLVIIL.—On the Occurrence of the Genus Sporadanthus in New Zealand. 
By T. F. Cuzxzseman, F.L.S. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 2nd June, 1879.] 
Tux plant now constituting the genus Sporadanthus was originally discovered 
by the well-known naturalist, Dr. Ernst Dieffenbach, in the Chatham 
Islands, in 1840. Neither flowering nor fruiting specimens were obtained, 
and it was therefore impossible to determine, with accuracy, the systematie 
position of the plant, although Dr. (now Sir Joseph) Hooker, in the “Flora 
Novæ-Zealandiæ,” ventured to provisionally refer it to the genus Calorophus. 
During the interval which elapsed between the publication of the ** Flora” 
and that of the * Hand-book," no additional information was obtained. 
Neither does it appear that the plant was observed during Mr. Henry 
Travers' first visit to the Chathams in 1863-64, for it is not mentioned in 
the list of species collected by him and recorded in Baron Von Mueller’s 
** Vegetation of the Chatham Islands ; although casually referred to in the 
introduction as “ a doubtful Calorophus, mentioned by Dr. Hooker.” On Mr. 
Travers’ second visit in 1871, he was more successful, and I believe a good 
series of specimens was obtained. Some of these, including male flowers, 
were forwarded to Baron Von Mueller, and from their study he described 
the plant under the name of Lepyrodia traversii.* Shortly afterwards, fruiting 
specimens were also received, which proved that the plant has nucular and 
not capsular fruit as in all true species of Lepyrodia. This discovery neces- 
sitated its removal from that genus; and ultimately Baron Von Mueller pro- 
posed a new genus—Sporadanthus—for its reception. Under this name it 
appears in Mr. Buchanan’s list of the « Flowering Plants and Ferns of the 
Chatham Islands.” + 
Up to the present time, it had been supposed that Sporadanthus was 
entirely confined to the Chatham Islands. In January last, however, while 
travelling by rail from Hamilton to Ohaupo, in the Waikato District, I 
noticed that the extensive swamp through which the railway passes before 
reaching Ohaupo, was in many places entirely covered with a tall-growing 
Restiad, quite new to me. A few days later, I walked through the swamp 
for the purpose of identifying the species, and found that it was evidently 
the Chatham Island plant above referred to. Since then I have learnt from 
hia, known as the Moanatuatua swamp. Very probably it will be found in 
all the larger morasses of the Upper Waikato basin. 
* Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australie, Vol. VIII, p. 79. 
t Trans. N.Z. Inst., Vol. VIL, Art. XLVII. 
