256 Transactions. — Botanij. 



Aristotelia racemosa is very abundant, and is interesting from the perfect 

 gradation which it exhibits between true male flowers having no trace of a 

 pistil and true female flowers quite destitute of even the rudiments of 

 stamens, and between these and true hermaphrodite flowers having the full 

 complement of both stamens and carpels. The flowers are produced in 

 great numbers, the male particularly, so that the bushes are bright red with 

 them. They have no perceptible fragrance, and no honey, and the pollen is 

 of so hght and friable a nature that I think they must be almost entirely 

 anemophilous, though perhaps assisted in their fertilization by insects. 

 They grow, also, on the edges, or in more open parts of the bush, where 

 they are not shut off from access of wind. 



Aristotelia fruticosa is one of those extremely variable species which I 

 think are at the present time undergoing rapid modification into distinct 

 forms. Sir J. D. Hooker states, in the " Handbook of the New Zealand 

 Flora," that he has made four varieties, " but they seem to be states 

 determined by age and exposure, rather than hereditary races." I have, 

 however, gathered three very distinct forms growing all together, which 

 makes me consider them as incipient species. As in A. racemosa, the 

 flowers of this species are polygamous, but being much smaller and more 

 sparingly produced it is difiicult to say how they are fertilized. I could 

 detect neither scent nor honey. At the same time the flowers have not the 

 loosely-hung anthers, nor the very prominent stigmas, which characterize 

 the majority of wind-fertilized plants. 



ElcEocarpus hookerianus seems to be fitted for insect-fertilization. The 

 flowers are greenish-white and drooping, but very conspicuous by their 

 abundance. They appear to be strictly hermaphrodite, but are proterand- 

 rous. Though destitute of fragrance they produce a great deal of honey, 

 which is probably secreted by the circle of glands surrounding the base of 

 the stamens. 



Nat. Ord. Linages. 



Linurti monogynum is the commonest representative, and is a very vari- 

 able plant as to the size of its leaves and flowers. I have not been able, 

 however, to detect distinct dimorphism, which is so characteristic of some 

 Em'opean forms, nor have I seen the minute honey-glands, such as occur 

 in L. usitatissinium. The flowers are pure white, scentless, but, as far as 

 I can make out, sterile with their own pollen. Examination of more 

 specimens, and cultivation, would throw more light on this plant. I have 

 not been able to examine L. viarginale, which occurs sparingly in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Dunedin. 



Nat. Ord. GERANiAOEiE. 



Of the genus Geranium, four species are common, but I have only ex- 

 amined two, viz., G. microphyllum, and G, molle. The latter has been 



