436 Transactions. — Botany. 



distinguished from C. cowans by the flaccid culms ; sheathed spikelets, the 

 lowest of which is nearly basal ; and by the turgid perigynia, which exceed 

 the glumes in length. From C. testacea it is at once removed by the number 

 of the style-branches, narrower and smoother perigynia, and by the remote 

 lower spikelet. 



27. C. petriei, Cheeseman, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xvi., p. 413. 



South Island.— Mountains above the Broken Eiver, and near Arthur's 

 Pass, alt. 3,000-4,500 feet ; ravines at the foot of Mount Dobson, and 

 between Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, alt. 3,000 feet, T.F.C. ; near 

 Naseby; Dunstan Mountains, alt. 3,000 feet; Lake Wanaka, alt. 3,500 

 feet, D. Petrie ! 



I take this to be a perfectly distinct and well-marked form, easily dis- 

 tinguished from any of the species with 3 styles by its usually reddish 

 colour; by the broad sheathing bases to the leaves and their fine points, 

 which are curled and twisted when dry ; by the small and narrow spikelets, 

 all of which are sheathed and stalked, and the lower on filiform peduncles ; 

 by the remarkably pale coloured glumes ; and by the narrow ovoid or 

 elliptic-oblong turgid perigynia, which are quite smooth and even, and of a 

 dark brownish- or purplish-black colour. It seems to be conveniently 

 placed near C. pulchella although by no means closely allied to that plant. 

 From C. testacea and the allied species it is at once removed by the number 

 of styles and the shape of the perigynia. 



28. C. comans, Berggren, Physioyraph. Saltskaps Mimieskrift Lund, 1878, 

 t. 7, f. 15-19. 



North Island. — Sandy shores near Hokianga, Berggren ; near Kaihu, 

 Northern Wairoa, T.F.C. ; Paparoa, (Kaipara), T. Kirk. 



With this species I am imperfectly acquainted, for although I believe 

 that I have gathered it in the Northern Wairoa district, my specimens are 

 few in number and very immature. Judging mainly from Dr. Berggren's 

 plate and description, it is separated from the allied species with three 

 stigmas by the slender habit, filiform plano-convex leaves, which are longer 

 than the culms, remote short-stalked or sessile spikelets, and by the narrow 

 plano-convex perigynia, with the margins sharply and coarsely toothed 

 towards the apex. 



Near Lake Tekapo, Canterbury, I have collected specimens of a plant 

 closely allied to the above, but differing in the stouter habit, much larger 

 and broader glumes with longer awns, and rather broader perigynia. I had 

 placed it as a variety of C. comans, but Mr. J. G. Baker, of Kew, who has 

 done me the favour of comparing it with tin authentic specimen of C. comans 

 received from Dr. Berggren, considers it to be distinct. I hesitate, however, 

 to describe it as new until better acquainted with Berggren's plant. 



