T. Kirk. — Occurrence of Bhagodia in Neiv Zealand. 369 



Art. XXXI.— Notice of the Occurrence of a Species of Bhagodia at Port 

 Nicholson. By T. Kirk, F.L.S. 

 [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, Uth November, 1883.] 

 The genus Bhagodia has long been supposed peculiar to Australia, its addi- 

 tion to the New Zealand Flora is therefore a matter of considerable interest 

 as it increases the number of important genera common to both countries. 



In this district a species belonging to the genus occurs in rocky places 

 by the sea on the Miramar Peninsula, and in other localities on the coast. 

 It closely resembles Chenopodium triandrum in external characters, and it is 

 to this cause that we must attribute the fact of its having so long escaped 

 notice. It may, however, be distinguished from any species of Chenopodium 

 by its succulent bright crimson fruits. 



Our plant was originally added to the Flora and identified as Bhagodia 

 nutans, B. Br., var., by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, of Auckland, who discovered 

 it on an island in the Hauraki Gulf, and kindly favoured me with specimens 

 in May last. On a recent examination of a collection of plants formed by 

 my youngest son, H. B. Kirk, I was agreeably surprised to find the plant 

 represented by specimens collected at Miramar, in the vicinity of Welling- 

 ton, and have but little doubt that most of the littoral stations recorded for 

 Chenopodium triandrum will prove to belong to the New Zealand form of 

 Bhagodia nutans. 



The Wellington plant appears to be more robust than the Auckland 

 plant ; the leaves of the latter also are green and membranous, while those 

 of the former are mealy-white beneath. 



Our plant is characterized by slender branches one to two feet long or 

 more, trailing amongst rocks or supporting themselves amongst the lower 

 branches of shrubs. The stems are woody at the base, and sometimes of 

 considerable thickness ; leaves usually mealy-white, opposite or rarely alter- 

 nate, about i" long, on slender petioles, broadly lanceolate with an angular 

 base (never hastate in the specimens examined), not unfrequently the points 

 turned inwards, acute. Inflorescence in axillary fascicles, near the ex- 

 tremity of the branches, or in slender, shortly-branched terminal panicles. 

 Fruit succulent, bright crimson. 



Further acquaintance with the plant will probably show that it is worthy 

 of permanent distinction as a variety, in which case it might be appro- 

 priately designated : — - 



Bhagodia nutans, B. Br., var. novai-zealandice. 

 , Apparently it was first observed in this colony by Dr. Hector, who sup- 

 posed it to be a form of Chenopodium triandrum with succulent fruits. 

 Sir Joseph Hooker, in the supplemental reference to C. triandrum in 

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