352 Transactions. —Botany. 
Tn the following list many of the species are poorly represented, and many 
are confined to the sea shore, while none of them have attained the same 
extent here as in other parts of the province :— 
Carduus lanceolatus, Linn. Helminthia echioides, Gertn. (rare). Cerastium vu vulga- 
tum, Linn. Sherardia arvensis, Linn, Anagallis arvensis, Linn. Euphorbia peplus, Linn. 
Erodium cicutarium, Sm. Stellaria media, With. Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Linn. 
(abundant on the sea- SE Geranium molle, Linn. Fumaria officinalis, Linn. Ee 
hispida, Willd. Leontodon taraxacum, Linn. Hypochæris radicata, Linn. (not common. ) 
Sagina procumbens, Linn. Rumex viridis, Sibth. Rumex maritimus, Linn. Rumex 
acetosella, Linn. Lythrum hyssopifolia, Linn. Nasturtium officinale, Br. Plantago 
lanceolata, Linn. Centaurea solstitialis, Linn. (spreading on the sea-shore). Prunella 
vulgaris, Linn. Rosa canina, Linn. (not common). Cytisus scoparius (yellow broom), 
DC. (confined to one patch near Maupui Pa). Ulex europæus, Linn. (furze). This 
dangerous weed is limited at pee to a small patch on the shore of Evans Bay, and 
another near the old Pilot Station. 
Of useful plants as sors the following were collected :— 
Melilotus officinalis, Linn. (spreading over blown sand, and acting as a binder by its 
deep — SEER Prais Linn. Trifolium repens, Linn. Holcus lanatus, Linn. 
Lo pe Festuca bromoides, Linn. Gastridium lendigerum, Beauv. 
Lagurus wi oe sn annua, Linn. P. pratense, Linn. Anthoxanthum odoratum 
Linn. Dactylis. glomerata, Linn. Bromus commutatus, Schrad. B. arvensis, Linn. 
mollis, Linn. Ammophila arundinacea, Host, 
Some are probably omitted from want of flowering or fruiting specimens 
? 
to determine the species. 
~ Arr. XLVII.—On the Fertilization of the New Zealand Species of Pterostylis. 
By Tuos. F. CHEESEMAN. 
(With Illustration.) 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 14th October, 1872.] 
Prruars the most interesting study connected with the structural peculiarities 
of Orchids is that of the varying means by which, in the majority of the 
species, fertilization by insect agency is secured. The wonderful co-adaptation 
of all the parts of the flower to effect this end, the degree in which organs 
have become modified to uses widely different from their normal functions, and 
the general fertility of contrivance exhibited, can never fail to excite our 
admiration and surprise. 
Although none of the New Zealand Orchidew exhibit a mode of fertiliza- 
tion, founded on such complexity of structure and specialization of parts, as 
occurs in some of the tropical American and Asiatic genera ; and although 
probably none equal in this respect the British species of Orchis and Ophrys, 
_ yet several kinds present interesting and noteworthy peculiarities. These are 
