352 transactions. — Botany. 



Hah. — South Island : Hector's Col, Mount Aspiring Range. Alt. 

 5,000 feet — BucJianan and McKay, 1881. On open ridgey patches where the 

 snows melt in summer. Alhed to V. hidwilUi in size and form of leaves, 

 but entirely different in their fascicular arrangement, and the absence of 

 flowering racemes. 



Named in compliment to the distinguished botanist Baron von Miieller. 



Plate XXXIL, fig. 1, plant nat. size; 2, flower; 3, capsule; 4, cap- 

 sule, with pistil; 5, different forms of leaf. 



Notes on the genus Veronica. — This beautiful family of plants has suffered 

 much by the settlement of the Lake districts, few being now seen on the 

 river flats where they were once abundant. A few collected previously in 

 1862 were not seen at this time, although it is probable they may still be 

 found in the more inaccessible parts of the mountains. The large orna- 

 mental shrub, Veronica cupressoides, once abundant, and often cultivated in 

 gardens, is now rare. The alpine forms are apparently safe, being chiefly 

 found on barren ground with a sparse vegetation where fires do not run. 

 The highest altitude to which any of this genus reaches was on Mount 

 Alta, where Veronica buchanani was collected at 7,500 feet. The following 

 is a list of those collected at this time : — Veronica haastii, V. buxifolia, V. 

 jnmeleoides, V. buchanani, V. canescens, V. linifolia, V. salicifolia, V. ligustri- 

 folia, V. macrantha, V. bidivillii, V. raoulii, V. tetragona, V. hectori, V. colensoi, 

 V. IcBvis. 



Pygviea ciliolata, Hook. fil. 



A hoary moss-like plant, 1 inch high, forming compacted patches on the 

 ground. Branches with the leaves on i inch diameter. Leaves densely 

 imbricate, ^ inch long, obovate and rounded at top, entire, ciliate on the 

 margins and nearly glabrous on both surfaces, 1-veined. Flowers j^— J inch 

 long, terminal on the branches. Sepals shorter than the corolla tube. 



Hab. — Mount Alta, 6,000 feet alt. — Buchanani and McKay, 1881. 



Plate XXXn., fig. 1, plant nat. size; 1 a, flower, enlarged j-; lb, 

 leaf enlarged f. 



Pygmea pulvinaris, Hook. fil. 



A white very hoary moss-like plant, 1 inch high, forming compacted 

 patches on the ground. Branches with the leaves on ^ inch diameter. 

 Leaves densely imbricate -^ inch long, narrow linear oblong, obtuse, 

 upper half covered on both surfaces with white hairs, 1-veined. Flowers 

 shortly peduncled, sepals linear, obtuse, nearly as long as the corolla 

 tube. 



Hah. — Mount Alta, 6,000 feet alt.^ — Buchanan and McKay, 1881. 



Plate XXXIL, fig. 2, plant nat. size; 2a, flower enlarged ^; 2 b, c, 

 leaves enlarged f . • • . • 



