278 Transactions. — Botany. 



appearance of southern species and a disappearance of some species of 

 Pittosporum, of Panax, and of heaths. This disappearance of plants 

 closely allied to those of Northern Australia, and the appearance of South 

 Island species, appears to hear upon the theory of the land connection of 

 New Zealand with Australia and with the Antarctic Continent before the 

 glacial period ; but in a paper like the present, the plain duty of the writer 

 is to state what he knows and to avoid all theoretical subjects. 



In my last paper I mentioned that a Celmisia found at Table Mountain 

 differed from the description of Celmisia longifolia in the Handbook. There 

 is also a Celmisia growing on parts of the dividing range at Te Aroha, 

 which is no doubt a variety of Celmisia longifolia, but the following descrip- 

 tions of both plants will, I think, show that the Whakairi plant is a differ- 

 ent species. 



Celmisia, sp. Whakairi. 



Leaves 4-7 inches long -7 inch broad lanceolate acuminate flat, distantly 

 toothed. Upper surface dull green almost glabrous. Under surface, cot- 

 tony, tomentose except the midrib, which is light brown glabrous raised 

 above the leaf, and forms when dry a conspicuous band -07 inch wide. The 

 leaves are sometimes purple at the base. Scapes 7-8 inches long rather 

 weak, bracts leafy. Involucral scales silky subulate green. Rays few "75 

 inches long, ligules broad. Pappus hairs yellow brown, weak, *2 inch long. 

 Achene brown glabrous, -15 inch long. 



Celmisia longifolia. Te Aroha. 



Leaves, 3^-4 inches long, -1 inch broad, revolute, covered with a grey 

 tomentum, especially on the under surface, rather coriaceous, uniform in 

 colour to the base. Scapes rather stiff, cottony ; bracts linear. Involucral 

 scales cottony ; points brown. Rays many, -5 inch long. Pappus hairs 

 numerous, stiff, -3 inch long. Achene glabrous, white, -25 inch long. 



The following list of plants, observed at Te Aroha, cannot be regarded as 

 complete ; for although I made two visits to the district, they were both in 

 the month of January. This will partly account for the few orchids ob- 

 served, as they flower early, and at a later season are easily overlooked. 

 Indeed, the presence of Myrtus ralphii and M. obcorclata mentioned above, 

 but not included in my list, rests on the testimony of my friend Mr. 

 Cheeseman, who observed several plants not seen by me. My exploration 

 of the mountain commenced at an elevation of about 2,000 feet, where I was 

 cataloguing for some days before I visited the base or the summit, and this 

 led me to remark on the locality of the plants in my catalogue, as the 

 absence of some plants and the presence of others on the mountain side 

 were to me alike surprising. 



