432 Transactions. — Botany* 



A well-marked species, excellently described and figured by Dr. Berg- 

 gren. Among the species with two styles it is easily recognized by its 

 usually reddish colour, densely tufted habit, strict semi-terete leaves, pale- 

 coloured glumes and elliptic plano-convex serrate perigynia. Dr. Berggren 

 considers that it is allied to C. raoulii, but I can find but little affinity with 

 that plant, which differs altogether in habit, foliage, glumes and perigy- 

 nia. 



Mr. Petrie informs me that C. buchanani is rapidly increasing in the 

 central districts of Otago, spreading along the sides of water-races, and in 

 river valleys that have had the dense native vegetation cleared away. In 

 Canterbury and Nelson it is usually found on the shingle-beds of the large 

 rivers ; but it also ascends the mountains. 



17. C. lucida, Boott, in Hook.fil. Fl. Nov. Zeal, i., 283 ; III. Car., 1. 173 ; 

 Hook.jil. Handbook X.Z. Flora, 314. 



North and South Islands. — Abundant throughout, from the North Cape 

 to Stewart Island. Altitudinal range from sea-level to 3,500 feet. 



This is a well-known and widely-spread species, and in its ordinary 

 state cannot be confounded with any other. The narrow keeled leaves ; 

 distant long and narrow somewhat loose-flowered spikelets ; usually entire 

 glumes ; and the biconvex turgid smooth and polished perigynia are good 

 distinguishing characters. The culms often elongate considerably after 

 flowering, becoming prostrate, and sometimes attaining a length of four or 

 five feet. This form commonly has much paler glumes and perigynia than 

 the type, but these are unimportant differences. The style-branches appear 

 to me to be invariably two only ; unless a doubtful plant with three styles, 

 from the Wairau Valley, Nelson, of which I possess immature specimens 

 only, be referable to this species. 



18. C. dipsacea, Berggren, Physiograph. Saltskaps Minneskrift Lund, 

 1878, t. 7, f. 8-14. 



North Island. — Tokano and Omatangi (near Lake Taupo), Berggren, I. c. ; 

 Mount Egmont Banges, alt. 3,000 feet, H. Tryon ! Upper Waikato and 

 Patetere, T.F.C. ; abundant in the swamps of the Middle and Lower 

 Waikato nearly to the mouth of the river, T.F.C. 



Smith Island. — Nelson — Lower Motueka, Graham Biver, Wangapeka 

 Valley, Wairau Valley, T.F.C. ; Canterbury — Southern Alps, Berggren, I.e. ; 

 Upper Waimakariri, Lake Tekapo, T.F.C. ; Otago — Manuherikia Valley, 

 Strath Taieri, Waikouaiti, Upper Waipori, Catlin's Biver, D. Petrie ! Alti- 

 tudinal range from sea-level to 3,500 feet. 



' A larger species than the preceding, of a deeper green colour. The 

 spikelets are much shorter and stouter, the flowers much more closely 

 packed, the glumes broader, rounded and obtuse at the top ; and the 



