438 Transactions. — Botany. 



C. dissita is undoubtedly one of the most variable species we possess. 

 Commencing with the small form found abundantly in mountain swamps, 

 and which is often hardly more than 6 or 9 inches high, with narrow 

 leaves and three or four short and small spikelets, every step can be 

 traced into the tall grassy variety so generally distributed in both low- 

 land and upland districts, and which is often more than two feet high, 

 with 6-8 loosely placed, often pendulous, spikelets. This again varies 

 into the stouter and harsher form hitherto kept distinct under the 

 name of C. lamhertiana, but which is certainly only entitled to rank as 

 a variety — all its differences being those of size and luxuriance, and none 

 of them being even tolerably constant. Another curious state, which 

 is found in many localities in the Auckland Provincial District, has many of 

 the characters of C. lambertiana, but differs in the softer foliage, shorter and 

 much paler spikelets, the lowest of which are almost invariably compound, 

 and much shorter culms. In the compound spikelets it approaches C. nee- 

 siana, but differs altogether in habit and the short stalk to the much larger 

 spikelets. C. neesiana is certainly a close ally of C. dissita, but appears to 

 be siifficiently distinct in the different habit, numerous male spikelets and 

 compound lower female ones on long pendulous stalks. The distinction of 

 entire glumes, given by Hooker in the " Handbook," breaks down when a 

 large suite of specimens is examined, the glumes varying in both species 

 from quite entire to deeply bifid, and the length of the awn is equally incon- 

 stant. 



32. C. neesiana, Endl. Prodr. Fl. Ins. Norfolk, 24 ; Boott, III. Car., 

 iv., 136, t. 436; Hook.fil. Handbk. N.Z. Flora, 316. C. solandri, Boott in 

 Hook.fil. FL. Nov. Zeal, i., 284 ; 111. Car., i., t. 176. 



North Island.- — Not uncommon in wooded districts. 



South Island.' — Queen Charlotte Sound, Banks and Solander (Hand- 

 book) ; Wangapeka, Upper Wairau and other localities in Nelson, T.F.C. ; 

 Banks Peninsula, Armstrong ! ; Akaroa, T. Kirk ; near Dunedin and on 

 Stewart Island, D. Petrie ! 



This is principally distinguished from C. dissita by the taller, more 

 slender habit ; longer culms, often becoming elongated in fruit and pros- 

 trate ; more numerous male spikelets (the male spikelets are seldom more 

 than one in C. dissita) ; and by the compound long peduncled lower female 

 spikelets. The perigynia and glumes are much alike in both species. 



C. neesiana is found in Norfolk Island, but does not seem to extend into 

 Australia or Tasmania. 



33. C. longiculmis, Petrie, Trans. N.Z. Inst., xiv., 363. 



South Island. — Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, D. Petrie ! O. M. Thomson ! 

 T. Kirk I 



