238 Transactions. — -Botany, 



Order X. MALVACEAE. 

 Genus 2. Hoheria, A. Cunn. 

 1. Hoheria sexstylosa, sp. nov. 



Tree erect, 12-14 feet, fastigiate, much branched ; bark scaly with 

 many small cracks and a whitish epidermis ; branches long, slender, 

 glabrous, roughish, bark dark reddish-brown ; branchlets puberulous, with 

 star-like pubescence. Leaves rather distant, glabrous, very variable in size 

 and shape, mostly, however, lanceolate on the main and flowering branches, 

 2-2f inches long, acuminate, sometimes truncated at tips, cuneate, very 

 finely reticulated and dotted, sub-membranaceous, light green above and 

 lighter green below, sharply and deeply serrate, teeth acute ; petioles \ 

 inch, flat above, and (with peduncles and calyces) thickly clothed with star- 

 like pubescence. Flowers numerous, white, 1 inch and more in diameter, 

 axillary and lateral, fascicled, mostly 3-4 together, sometimes 2, and also 

 only 1 ; peduncles f inch, jointed about the middle ; calyx cup-shaped, 5- 

 lobed, lobes large, deltoid-acuminate, acute with a knob at tips, 3-nerved, 

 purplish-green ; petals 5, connate at base, oblong, 7 lines long, 3 lines 

 wide, oblique, obtuse, each petal deeply one-notched on the right side near 

 tip, veined, glabrous, hairy within near base, spreading, incurved; filaments 

 5-adelphous, spreading, 2 lines long ; anthers (filaments and styles) white, 

 reniform, sub-versatile; styles 6-7, stout, flexuous, shaggy; stigmas capitate, 

 large, flattish at top, papillose, slightly coloured, yellowish ; ovary included 

 sunk, 6-7 ridged, pubescent. 



Hob. Skirts of woods and thickets, Norsewood, Matamau, and Taho- 

 raiti, County of Waipawa ; 1883-84 : W.C. Flowering in March and 

 April. 



Obs. No two trees can be more unlike in their foliage than this is in 

 its young and in its mature state ; and not only so, but the same tree in 

 the leaves on its older and flowering branches, and in those on its younger 

 and lower branches ; these latter, like those on the young trees, are under 

 an inch long, rhomboid, trilobed, sub-orbicular, etc., but always deeply 

 serrate and sub-fascicled, generally four together and all of various sizes. 

 On the flowering branches also, the lowest leaves are invariably small. I 

 have long known this plant in its young and leafing state, and had always 

 supposed it to be a variety of Plagianthus hetulinus, A. Cunn., which it much 

 resembles. When in flower it has a striking and elegant appearance, and 

 it remains a long time in full blossom ; it will make a handsome garden 

 tree or tall shrub. Not unfrequently 5-6, or more, standards rise from the 

 one root, all about the same size, forming a little compact clump. The 

 bark of the older trees is often completely covered with handsome crusta- 

 ceous lichens. 



