394 Transactions. — Botany. 



seen it only in places where the soil is of volcanic origin ; but in the 

 interior of Otago and also in Southland it thrives well in alluvial soil. It 

 can be easily propagated by cuttings. Plants taken from the bush with a 

 very slender complement of roots have done very well in my garden. 



In directing the attention of gardeners, amateur and professional, to the 

 merits of this species of Olearia, I feel confident that any trouble they may 

 take in procuring and propagating it will be amply repaid by its fine ap- 

 pearance as an ornamental shrub and its delicate scent. Ere many years 

 pass by it should carry the name of our fellow- colonist, Dr. Hector, into 

 many parts of the old world, and be reckoned one of the richest floral gifts 

 of these islands. 



The following is a detailed description of the species, which is a remark- 

 ably distinct one : — 



An .erect, compact, twiggy shrub, or small tree, 8-20 feet high. 

 Branches tortuous. Leaves |-l£ inches long, on slender petioles, obo- 

 vate or narrowed symmetrically above and below the middle, membranous, 

 covered below with pale grey tomentum, veins distinct. 



Heads in fascicles of 10-12, sessile on the ends of short lateral branches, 

 with a thin bract at the base of each head, densely cottony on the outer 

 surface, smelling sweetly and strongly of peaches. 



Involucral scales in two series, the inner larger and more membranous, 

 cottony on the back and margins. 



Florets 5-8, outer row shortly ligulate ; pappus in one series of stout, 

 scabrid, tapering hairs not thickened at the tips. Achene with rather long 

 Silky hairs. 



It has been gathered in the following localities :— Saddle Hill ; Vaux- 

 hall, Dunedin ; Taiaroa Head ; Otepopo Bush ; neighbourhood of Inver- 

 cargill ; Nugget Point ; and gullies near Clyde, Cromwell and Arrowtown. 



In some respects this species differs from all others of the genus and 

 chiefly in having the heads fascicled and the ligulate florets yellow. 



Art. XLI. — Notes on new Species of Plants. By J. Buchanan, F.L.S. 



Plates XXXIV-XXXVIL 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, l'dth February, 1884.] 



Plagianthus linariifolia, n. s. 



A slender upright dense foliaged shrub, with long fascicled leaves. 



Mowers not seen. Fruit of one indehiscent capsule ; capsule narrow, 



oblong, adherent to the carpel, slightly downy at first, when mature 



shining black. 



