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Art. XIX. — On the discovery of Isoetes, and other genera of Rhizocarpse, 

 new to the Flora of New Zealand. By T. Kirk. 



(With Illustrations.) 



[Bead before the Auckland Institute, October 18, 1869.] 



During the past autumn I had the pleasure of making a short tour in the 

 Waikato, in company with my friend Captain Hutton, specially with the 

 object of searching for Rhizocarpae, and other obscure aquatic plants. Although 

 our explorations were abruptly stopped by heavy and continued rain, a portion 

 of the results is of sufficient importance to warrant its being placed on record, 

 even in a necessarily imperfect condition, in order to draw the attention of 

 colonial botanists to genera not previously observed in New Zealand, but 

 which will, in all probability, be ultimately found in every province. 



Great attention has been paid to the Rhizocarpae during the last twelve 

 years, especially by Dr. Alexander Braun, of Berlin, and M. Gay, of Paris. 

 At the commencement of that period only one species of Isoetes was recognized, 

 I. Jiuitans, L. ; although it is not unlikely that the plant now known as I. echinos- 

 pora, Dur., may have been the /. Jiuitans, var. gracilis, of authors, the 

 differences at that time observed being confined to habit of growth, texture, etc. 

 It is only within the last eight or nine years that the value of the macrospores, 

 as affording specific characters, has been fully demonstrated. More than 

 twenty species are known, of which five are Australasian. 



Our Waikato Quillwort proves to be a new species, Isoetes Kirkii, Braun, 

 and is closely allied to the Tasmanian /. htmiilior, F. Muell. The leaves 

 (fronds), are from 2—4 inches in length, rounded and very slender, in strong 

 plants spreading ; sporangium 4-celled ; macrospores sexangular, with slightly- 

 raised margins, finely punctate ; microspores obscurely triangular, minutely 

 punctate. The macrospores appear to vegetate, in many instances, before 

 leaving the capsule, thus forming dense masses of slender pale-green leaves 

 amongst the decaying leaves of older growth. 



Other species may be expected to occur in our central and alpine lakes. 



Pilularia, sp. Specimens with short solitary leaves, and small capsules, 

 were discovered, but too far advanced to admit of identification. 



% Marsilea, sp. A solitary specimen, in imperfect fruit, apparently 

 resembling Marsilea pubescens, was collected, growing with another obscure 

 plant, which may possibly prove to be referable to the Australian genus 

 Microcarpaea, belonging to the Scrophulariads. 



In addition to the above, an undescribed pondweed, allied to the European 

 Potamogeton zoster afolius, Schum., was collected, also Scvrpus Jiuitans, L. 



Isolepis fluitans, R. Br., (Pleogiton Jiuitans, Link), was discovered for the 

 first time in the colony, and at least three species of Chara, not before recorded. . 



Of scarcely less interest was the occurrence of Zanniehellia imlustris, L., 

 Picppia maritima, L., Potamogeton pectinatus, L., and other plants, not pre- 

 viously known to occur in the Province of Auckland, thus exhibiting a marked 

 extension of their northern and western range. 



Art. XX. — On Epacris purpurascens, Br., in New Zealand ; with remarks 

 on Epacris pauciflora, A Rich. By T. Kirk. 



[Read before the Auckland Institute, October 18, 1869.] 



This attractive plant is stated, in the supplementary portion of the " Flora 

 Novae Zelandiae," to have been seen by the late Dr. Sinclair and Colonel 

 Bolton, at Papakura, where I believe it was originally discovered by Mr. 



Q 



