360 Transactions. — Botany. 



the ovary. Corolla xS~i ^^^^ across, campanulate, split to below the middle 

 into 4, rarely 5, sometimes only 3, rather broad obtuse lobes, which are 

 covered more or less on both sm'faces with glistening frost-like particles. 

 Stamens seated on the corolla, always the same in number as the lobes and 

 alternate with them. Styles 2, shorter than the stamens, united almost 

 throughout their whole length, with the tips divergent and surmounted by 

 unequal sized pinhead-shaped stigmas. Ovary inferior, distinctly 2-celled 

 glandular. Fruit not seen. Other characters as in genus. 



Hab. — On dry banks at Fairlie Creek, County of Geraldine ; 15 Dec, 

 1880. — Mr. J. F. Armstrong., Also in Selwyn County about 1868, by the 

 same collector. 



The discovery of a second species of woodroof in New Zealand is highly 

 interesting. The present seems sufficiently distinct from A. perpusilla, 

 Hk. fil. in the perennial habit, absence of awns on the leaves, the larger 

 size and peduncled clustered flowers ; the latter character, however, is liable 

 to vary. The plant is evidently very local, and should be sought for in sub- 

 alpine and upland localities. Like so many other species of the genus it is 

 very difficult to determine when dried, and the above description has been 

 drawn up from living plants. It is, to my mind, somewhat curious that this 

 plant should possess, in common with the British A. odorata and other 

 species from distant countries, such apparently unimportant characters as 

 the frost-like particles on the corolla and the unevenness in the size of the 

 stigmas. The flowers are exceedingly sweet-scented when fresh, and while 

 drying the leaves emit a smell of newly mown hay, but in a less degree than 

 the common British species. The plant is extremely pretty on account of 

 the immense number of flowers it produces, and might prove a useful plant 

 for rock- work if it should prove amenable to cultivation. 

 Viola hydrocotyloides, n. sp. 

 The Water-penny Violet. 



Dif. char. — Stems creeping, hairy, perennial. Leaves reniform, hairy. 

 Flowers solitary, axillary. 



Description. — A small creeping perennial herb, with glandular hairy 

 branches rooting at the joints, and spotted with purple. Leaves alternate, 

 stipulate, coriaceous, petiolate, reniform, |— J inch diameter, glandular 

 and hairy, especially on the margins, which are coarsely obtusely 

 crenate ; jjetioles about half an inch long, rather stout for the size of 

 the plant, slightly channelled, glandular, and hairy ; veins netted, con- 

 spicuous ; stijncles deeply lacerated, large for the size of the plant. Floivers 

 irregular, solitary, axillary, about ^ of an inch long ; peduncles about ^-^ 

 inch long, glandular, curved, spotted with purple, rather stout, with two 

 opposite small linear sessile entire or serrate subacute bracts. Sepals 6, 



