92 



probably deteriorating in quality even more rapidly than they are increasing in 

 number. A close analysis of the indigenous species found in the district, 

 shows that fully four-fifths of the entire number are common to both the North 

 and South Islands ; the remaining fifth being peculiar to the North. 



New or Critical Species ; Variations, etc. 



Drvnvys colorata, Raoul. A small shrub with membranous leaves, green 

 on both surfaces, is doubtfully referred to this form, in the absence of flowers. 

 The ordinary forms of D. axillaris vary widely in the texture of the leaf, the 

 hairiness of the midrib, and the length of the peduncle. 



Viola Jilicaulis, Hook. f. Identified in the absence of flowers. Extremely 

 local, and probably attains here its northern limit. 



Pittosporum Huttonianum, n. sp. A somewhat-irregularly branched 

 shrvib or small tree, 12-25 feet high, with black or dark-brown bark, young 

 branches slender, and with the leaves and petioles clothed with white floccose 

 tomentum ; leaves alternate, oblong or ovate, obtuse or acute, rarely acuminate, 

 3-5 inches long, slightly coriaceous when old ; petioles slender, ^— | inches long ; 

 flowers axillary, solitary, or rarely in twos on a common pedicel, peduncles 

 downy, ^-^ inch long ; sepals lanceolate, acute, somewhat bullate at the base, 

 downy ; petals ligulate, sharply recurved at about half their length ; the 

 corolla never presenting the rotate appearance seen in P. tenuifolium ; ovary 

 pubescent, peduncles twice or thrice the length of the sepals ; bracts at the 

 base of the peduncle, deciduous, capsules erect, 2-3-valved, downy, larger than 

 in P. tenuifolium. In the flowering season the tomentum at the back of the 

 leaves presents a cobwebby appearance, and falls off in large quantities. 



I have named this handsome shrub after my valued friend Captain 

 Hutton, F.G.S., who was my associate at its original discovery, on the Great 

 Barrier Island. 



Pittosporum Kirkii, Hook. £, n. sp. A handsome laxly-branched shrub 

 when growing freely, 3-15 feet high, branchlets stout, i"igid, ascending; bark 

 reddish-purple, leaves alternate, crowded or whorled, linear-obovate, acute or 

 obtuse, 2-5 inches long, gradually narrowed into rather broad purple petioles, 

 excessively coriaceous, glabrous, pale-green above, lighter below, midrib stout, 

 prominent and curiously flattened beneath ; flowers terminal in 3-7 flowered 

 umbels, peduncles rather stout, decurved; sepals broadly lanceolate with 

 membranous margins ; petals ligulate, bright yellow, recurved ; capsules erect, 

 clustered, glabrous, elliptic, 1— 1J inches long, obtuse, 2-valved, remarkably 

 compressed, but the valves contract in a curious manner when the capsule 

 bursts. 



Usually in rocky woods, often epiphytic, observed only between 1600 feet 

 and 2700 feet. Origiually discovered on the Great Barrier. One of the most 

 strongly marked species of the genus. 



Pilocarpus Hooherianus, Raoul. A few small specimens of this plant 

 were seen on high peaks, with all the leaves orbicular or narrow-linear, and 

 curiously toothed and lobed ; the branches shortened and curiotisly aggregated, 

 forming an impervious mass of close growth. This was not simply the result 

 of exposure, as notwithstanding the altitude at which they grew, they were 

 sheltered by larger trees. In the Waikato, trees with leaves similar to the 

 above, are to be seen, amongst those of the ordinary mature form, on every 

 large tree ; in other localities in this province, the smaller leaves are not to be 

 met with. There appears to be some reason for supposing that two forms are 

 included under the name. 



Pomaderris Edgerleyi, Hook. f. Apparently confined to the sea-cliffs in 

 this district ; in one locality occurring in immense abundance, and attaining a 

 stature of 6-9 feet ; the most southern locality known for this remarkably 



