856 Transactions. — Botany. 



Inner, in several series ^ inch long, J-g^ inch broad, membraneous and 

 glabrous, inner series ciliate on upper half and margins, the whole more or 

 less viscid, rays in 1 series numerous, ^ inch long, narrow, pappus i inch 

 long, scabrid. Achene linear, hispid. 



Hah. — South Island : Nelson : on the Golden Downs near the head of 

 the Aorere Eiver — J. Ball ; in compliment to whom as an explorer and 

 collector it has been named. 



Plate XXXV., fig. 1, plant f nat. size ; 2, back view of flower head, 

 showing outer form of flower-bracts ; 3, inner form of flower-bracts ; 4, 

 fertile floret ; 5, rayed floret ; 6, pappus hair ; 7, stamens. 



This singular plant approaches the genus Senecio closer than any 

 Cehnisia hitherto found in New Zealand, especially in the presence of large 

 coriaceous leaf-like bracts on the scape. Its habit of growth, however, 

 especially in the large radical and rosulate leaves, relate it more to Cehnisia. 

 It may be necessary if other species with this remarkable double form of 

 flower-bracts be discovered that a new genus be constructed for their 

 reception. 



Art, XL VIII. — On some Plants new to New Zealand, and Description of a new 



Species. By John Buchanan, of the Geological Survey Department. 



[Bead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 21st Febniat'y, 1882.] 



Pteris longifolia, Linn. 



Specimens of this fern have lately been forwarded to the Museum by 

 Mr. Lascelles, of Naj)ier. They were collected by him in the Tarawera 

 country under circumstances which preclude the possibility of its having 

 been introduced. 



This is a fern widely distributed over the globe, having been collected 

 in many countries, and named by each collector with a different name. 

 Hooker gives for it in his " Species Filicum" eighteen synonyms of different 

 authors. 



It may be mentioned that the New Zealand plant has the pinnae 

 serrated, which may claim for it the position of a variety. 



On a Genus of Orchidaceffi new to New Zealand. 

 The following short description of a new Orchid, which proves to belong 

 to an Australian genus not previously represented in New Zealand, is taken 

 from Bentham's " Flora Austrahensis," vol. vi., p. 324. The plant was 

 collected by W. T. L. Travers, Esq., near the Mungaroa Swamp, and was 

 sent by him to the Museum for examination. 



