Peteie. — On neiv Species of Uncinia. 271 



This species of Lepidium is gx*eedily eaten by sheep, and it is only in 

 spots to which sheep cannot get ready access that specimens are now to be 

 gathered. 



Art. XXX. — Description of three new Species of Uncinia, 



By D. Petrie, M.A. 



[Read before the Otago Institute, 12th August, 1884.] 



1. Uncinia laxiflora, n. sp. 



A densely tufted species. 



Culms 14 inches to 2 feet high, slender, trigonous, scabrid towards the top. 



Leaves as long as or rather longer than the culms, very narrow {-^-y^ 

 inch wide), flat or concave, slightly scabrid, the expanded bases sheathing 

 the lower part of the culm. 



Spikelet very lax-flowered, slender, 2J- 3-| inches long ; bract leafy, 

 setose, or none. 



Glumes distant, green, lanceolate, sub-acute, shorter than the utricle. 



Utricle plano-convex, linear oblong, tapering at both ends, with numer- 

 ous faint nerves ; bristle half the length of the utricle. 



Hab. Owake Flat near Ratlin's Eiver (P. Goyen) ; Stewart Island ; 

 Buller Valley (T. F. Cheeseman). 



This species is closely allied to the next U. rigida, mihi. It is also 

 allied more remotely to U. filiformis, Boott, and U. caspitosa, Boott. The 

 latter as described in the " Handbook" appears to include several distinct 

 forms, of which this is probably one. U. ccespitosa, Boott, is there said to be 

 very variable, but I do not find it so. I have never gathered specimens of 

 it in Otago, or indeed elsewhere than in the North Island. 

 2. Uncinia rigida, n. sp. 



A densely tufted species. 



Culms 16-30 inches high, rather stout, terete, slightly scabrid towards 

 the top. 



Leaves as long as or rather shorter than the culms, flat or trigonous, 

 -j^-J-g- inch broad, strongly keeled, scabrid. 



Spikelets very uniform, 2-2^ inches long, rather slender, bract leafy, 

 twice as long as the spikelets. 



Glumes ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, laxly imbricate, brownish, with 

 scarious margins. 



Utricle slightly longer than the glumes, fusiform, plano-convex, tapering 

 at both ends, brownish, with numerous faint nerves, the bristle nearly as 

 long as the utricle. 



Hab. Blueskin, "Waitahuna, Lawrence, Boxburgh. 



