352 Transactions. — Botany. 



In the following list many of the species are poorly represented, and many 

 are confined to the sea shore, while none of them have attained the same 

 extent here as in other parts of the province : — - 



Carduus lanceolatus, luinn. Helminthia echioides, Goertn. (rare). Cerastium vulga- 

 tum, Jjinn. Sherardia arvensis, Lmw. Anagallis arvensis, Ijinn. Euphorbia peplus, 'Linn. 

 Erodium cicutarium, Sm. Stellaria media, With. Polycarpon tetraphyllum, Tiinn. 

 (abundant on the sea-shore). Geranium moUe, Linn. Fumaria oflSicinalis, Linn. Apargia 

 hispida, Wllld. Leontodon taraxacum, Linn. Hypochseris radicata, Linn, (not common. ) 

 Sagina procumbens, Linn. E/Umex viridis, Sibth. Rumex maritimus, Linn. E-umex 

 acetosella, Linn. Lythrum hyssopifolia, Linn. Nasturtium officruale, Br. Plantago 

 lanceolata, Linn. Centaurea solstitialis, Linn, (spreading on the sea-shore). Prunella 

 vulgaris, Linn. Eosa canina, Linn, (not common). Cytisus scoparius (yellow broom), 

 DC. (confined to one patch near Maupui Pa). Ulex europasus, Linn, (furze). This 

 dangerous weed is limited at present to a small patch on the shore of Evans Bay, and 

 another near the old Pilot Station. 



Of useful plants as pasture, the following were collected : — 

 Melilotus officinalis, Linn, (spreading over blown sand, and acting as a binder by its 

 deep rooting, ) Medicago lupulina, Linn. Trif olium repens, Linn. Holcus lanatus, Linn. 

 Lolium perenne, Linn. Eestuca bromoides, Linn. Gastridium lendigerum, Beauv. 

 Lagurus ovatus, Linn. Poa annua, Linn. P. pratense, Linn. Anthoxanthum odoratum, 

 Linn. Dactylis glomerata, Linn. Bromus commutatus, Sclirad. B. arvensis, Linn. 

 B. mollis, Linn. Ammophila arundinacea, Host. 



Some are probably omitted from want of flowering or fruiting specimens 

 to determine the species. 



Art. XLYII. — On the Fertilization of the New Zealand Species of Pterostylis. 



By Thos. F. Cheeseman. 



(With Illustration.) 



[Read before the Auchland Institute, 14th October, 1872.] 



Perhaps the most interesting study connected with the structural peculiarities 

 of Orchids is that of the varying means by which, in the majority of the 

 species, fertilization by insect agency is secured. The wonderful co-adaptation 

 of all the parts of the flower to effect this end, the degree in which organs 

 have become modified to uses widely difierent from their normal functions, and 

 the general fertility of contrivance exhibited, can never fail to excite our 

 admiration and surprise. 



Although none of the New Zealand Orchidese exhibit a mode of fertiliza- 

 tion, founded on such complexity of structure and specialization of parts, as 

 occurs in some of the tropical American and Asiatic genera ; and although 

 probably none equal in this respect the British species of Orchis and Ophrys^ 

 yet several kinds present interesting and noteworthy peculiarities. These are 



