Petrie. — On Olearia hectori. 393 



Cavern dissita, Sol. Karaka Creek. 



,, gaudichaudiana, Kunth. Tairua landing. 

 Hierochloe redolens, Br. Kerikeri, 

 Znysict pungens, Will. Puru. 

 Glyceria stricta, Hook. f. Piako Towers. 

 Gymnostichum gracile, Hook. f. Piako Towers. 

 Gleichenia dicarpa, Br. Table Mountain. 

 Adiantum cethiopicum, Linn. Kopu. 

 Lindscea viridis. Tararu Creek. 

 Aspidium aculeatum, Swartz. Kaueranga. 



,, capense. Kaueranga. 

 Nothochlama distans, Br. Kaueranga. 

 Schizcea dichotoma, Swartz. Pepe, Tairua. 

 Marattia fraxinea, Smith. Tararu Creek. 

 Phylloglossum drummondii, Kunze. Kerikeri. 

 Azolla rubra, Br. Kopu. 



Art. XL. — Notice of Oleairia hectori, Hook. f. By D. Petrie, M.A. 

 [Read before the Otago Institute, l'dth November, 1883.] 

 An imperfect notice of this species is to be found in Hooker's " Handbook 

 of the Flora of New Zealand." The specimeus, from which the description 

 was drawn up, appear to have shown neither flowers nor fruit. As the 

 plant is one of singular interest, I have thought it worth while to direct at- 

 tention to it, and to make out a full description. 



Few of the shrubs indigenous to New Zealand are more worthy of culti- 

 vation than this. When fairly grown it bears great numbers of very sweetly 

 scented flower-heads. The heads, which are grouped in fascicles, have a 

 yellow tint, but are not large or conspicuous, rarely exceeding the size of a 

 hazel-nut. The odour, which is singularly powerful and very agreeable 

 without being cloying, strongly resembles that of mellow ripe peaches. In 

 this respect the plant is in no way inferior to many exotics that are culti" 

 vated with great care for their delicate scent. The shrub grows to a con- 

 siderable size, sometimes forming a small tree of 3 or 4 inches in diameter. 

 Such large specimens are, however, rare, and evidently of great age. The 

 common forms are small compact graceful bushes, with very numerous 

 tortuous branches and twigs and light or greyish-green foliage. It is ever- 

 green, and as an ornamental shrub yields to few of our natives. It grows 

 naturally in rich black soil and in dry situations. Near the coast I have 



