162 



and young slioots, small umbels, short i)eduncles, 3-valved capsules and lai'ge 

 seeds. In habit and foliage it approaches P. Hiittonicmmn, bvit that species 

 has erect, axillary, pyriform capsules. 



The preceding description is drawn partly from specimens in the Colonial 

 Museum, and partly from recent cultivated specimens from gardens in Wel- 

 lington. I am informed that it was brought fi^om the neighbourhood of Patea 

 by Dr. RaJj^h, whose name 1 have much pleasure in connecting with it. 



It seems probable that this species is confused with P. crassifolium in the 

 Handbook, but it is more closely allied to P. umbellatum. P. crassifolium is 

 distinguished from all other JSTew Zealand species by its large, usually solitary 

 decurved fruit, and leaves gi-adually narrowed into the petioles. 



Loranthus decussatus, Kirk, n. s. 



In the "Account of the Botany of the Thames Gold Field," published in 

 the Transactions of the Neio Zecdand Institute, Vol. ii., p. 94, I have men- 

 tioned a Loranthus found without flower or fruit, and parasitic on Quintinia 

 serrata, as likely to jDrove a new species. A careful examination of specimens 

 of the same plant in the Herbarium, tends to conlirm that opinion. 



An erect, much branched, rigid shrub, young branches flattened, red ; 

 leaves erect, decussate, close set, ovate or elliptic, |^"-f' ' long, rarely deltoid ; 

 midrib not prominent, nerveless, fleshy, yellow, becoming red when dry ; 

 flowers axillary in opposite 2— 4-flowered racemes, erect, shortly pedicelled, 

 calyx Avith 4 minute teeth ; corolla tex-ete ; petals linear, free, i-ecurved at the 

 tips ; anthers linear. 



Hab. — Cape Colville Peninsula, T. K. (on Quintinia serrata) ; Nelson, 

 H. H. Travers (on Fagus). 



Distinguished from other ISTew Zealand species by its remarkable habit, 

 small size and yellow foliage; most closely allied to L. tetra^petcdus, Forst., 

 from which it is separated by its racemed flowers. The parasite is often 

 adherent to the supporting plant, by shoots of 3 or 4 feet in length. 



I would take this opportunity of expressing my regret that greater atten- 

 tion cannot be paid to the Herbarium, on account of the limited resources at 

 the command of the Director of the Museum. This collection of plants is 

 unequalled in the colony for the extensive suites of specimens of rare and local 

 plants, and it is to be deeply regretted that so rich a mass of material is not 

 made fully available for the use of the student. The want of sufiicient space 

 for its due arrangement, and the impossibility under existing arrangements of 

 affording the requisite time foi- its supervision, are serious drawbacks to its 

 efficiency, alike to the scientific student and the settler seeking for general 

 information. It is highly desirable that the requisite means should be supplied 

 to place it on a proj)er footing, and to increase its value by the addition of 



