Cheeseman. — Revision of the N.Z. Species of Carex. 425 



3. C. inversa, R. Br. Prodi:, 242; Boott, III. Car., iv., 151, t. 488- 

 488 : Hook, fit., Fl. Nov. Zeal., i., 281 ; Fl. Tasm., ii., 99; Handbk. N.Z. 

 Flora, 312 ; Benth. Fl. Austral., vii., 438; F. Muell. Fragm., vii., 252. 



North Island.—Neav Auckland, T. Kirk, T.F.C. ; Thames Valley, Upper 

 Waikato and Waipa, T.F.C. ; Hawke's Bay and Euahine Eange, Colenso 

 (Handbook); Waimarama, Hawke's Bay, H. Tryonl Wellington, rare, 

 T. Kirk. 



South Island. — Wangapeka Valley, Buller Valley, and other localities in 

 Nelson Province, T.F.C; Canterbury, Armstrong (Trans. N.Z. Inst, xii., 

 344) ; Otago, Lake Wanaka, Outram, and Strath Taieri, D. Petrie ! Deep 

 Stream, G. M. Thomson ! Dart Valley, T. Kirk. Altitudinal range from 

 sea-level to over 3,000 feet. 



Var. radicata.— Smaller, 2-4 inches high. Culms short or almost want- 

 ing, so that the spikelets are nearly radical, and much overtopped by the 

 leaves ; leaves wiry, involute, filiform ; perigynia prominently nerved, nar- 

 rowed into a long tapering serrate beak. Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki, 

 Canterbury, altitude 2,500 feet, T.F.C. 



The species, which is also common in many parts of Australia and Tas- 

 mania, can be easily distinguished from the following by its grassy habit, 

 pale-coloured spikelets, and beaked perigynia. It varies greatly in height — 

 some of my Nelson specimens are over eighteen inches, and Mr. Kirk 

 informs me that he has gathered equally luxuriant ones in the Wellington 

 District. On the other hand, specimens from the Upper Waikato are much 

 depauperated. 



The variety to which I have applied the name radicata is a very distinct 

 looking plant, but as at present it is only known from one district I hesitate 

 to describe it as a new species. It differs markedly from the type in the 

 very short culms, involute filiform leaves, and longer beak to the perigynia ; 

 but the Australian variety major has perigynia very similar in shape, and 

 the length of the culms is a variable character in most of the species. Pos- 

 sibly some of its characters may be due to the dry and arid climate of the 

 district in which it was collected. 



4. C. colensoi, Boott, in Hook. fit. Flora Nov. Zeal., i. 281, t. 63, b. ; 

 Handbook N.Z. Flora, 312. 



North Island. — Probably not uncommon on the dry grassy plains in the 

 interior. Upper Thames and Patetere, T.F.C. ; Patangata, Hawke's Bay, 

 W. Colenso (Handbook) ; Buataniwha Plains and Taupo, H. Tryon. 



South Island. — Common throughout in hilly and grassy districts, ascend- 

 ing to 4,500 feet. Sinclair and Haast (Handbook) ; Travers (Handbook) ; 

 Buchanan ! Armstrong I D. Petrie I G. M. Thomson ! T.F.C. 



A distinct and well-marked species, apparently confined to New Zealand. 



