394 Transactions. — Botany. 



The South Island is much richer in Juncece than has hitherto been 

 supposed. In addition to the species now mentioned, Jimcus cajnllaceus, 

 Hook, f., previously known only in a single habitat in Hawke Bay, has 

 been found in the Southern Alps ; J. paucijiorus, T. Kirk, at Broken Eiver, 

 and J. involucratus, T. Kirk, in the Amuri. In short, with the exception of 

 J. antarcticus, Hook, f., restricted to the mountain tops of Campbell Island, 

 and the northern J. holoschcenus, all the New Zealand species are found in 

 what may be termed the middle portion of the South Island — the old 

 provincial districts of Westland and Christchurch including the Amuri. We 

 may fairly expect that other species will be discovered. 



Art. LVI. — Description of a new Species of Hymenophyllum. 

 By T. KiEK, P.L.S. 



Plate XXI.— B. 

 IRead before the Wellingt07i Philosophical Society, 1st Decemher, 1877.] 

 Hymenophyllum montanum. 

 Ehizome slender, wiry, creeping ; fronds few, 2-3 inches long, glabrous, 

 linear oblong or oblong lanceolate, bipinnatifid ; stipes about 1 inch long, 

 winged nearly to the base ; rachis flexuous, winged, pinnae in from 6-8 

 pairs, mostly alternate, spreading, about one-third of an inch long, cut 

 nearly to the rachis into 2-4 spreading, linear, forked or bilobate segments. 

 Involucres terminating the segments, small, oval, 2-lipped nearly to the 

 base ; lips deejoly toothed or jagged ; receptacle included. 



This interesting addition to our flora was discovered on mountains at 

 the head of Lake Wakatipu by Mrs. Mason, of Queenstown, to whose 

 kindness I am indebted for specimens. 



In habit our plant closely resembles Trichomanes humile, but the frond 

 is broader at the base, the pinnse more divided and spreading. It has 

 affinities with H. javanicum, Spreng., and might possibly be overlooked as a 

 stunted condition of that species but for its different habit. In addition to 

 the larger and more highly divided frond, H. javanicum is distinguished 

 from the present species by its rounded involucres and crisped wings and 

 segments. H. montanum is distinguished from other New Zealand species 

 by its narrow involucres with deeply toothed or jagged tips ; it is of mem- 

 branous texture and of a dull green hue. 



In old specimens the segments are slightly constricted immediately 

 below the base of the involucre. 



Plate XXI.— B. 



1. Hymenophyllum montanum, natural size. 



2. Fertile pinnae, magnified. 



