364 Transactiotu. — Botany. 



the base ; lowermost l-ll inches long distant and shortly peduncled, the 

 upper approximate, sessile, becoming progressively shorter. Glumes ovate- 

 oblong, membraneous, brown at the edges, produced into a cuspidate awn, 

 usually bifid at the apex, but sometimes acute. Utricle as long as the 

 glumes, shortly stipitate, strongly nerved, usually deep-brown above, 

 narrowed into a short bifid beak. Arms of style 3. 



Hah. — Grlory Cove, Paterson's Inlet, Stewart Island. Gathered January, 

 1880. 



Art. LII. — Notes on Epacris microphylla in New Zealand. 

 By A. T. Ukquhaet. 

 (Read before the Auckland Institute, 5th September, 1881.] 

 In comparing the flora of New Zealand with that of Australia, the striking 

 fact presents itself to us, that nearly all the species which are identical, and 

 peculiar to the two countries, are plants bearing seeds specially adapted for 

 dispersal by wind. Any evidence bearing on the interchange of species, by 

 natural means, between Australia and New Zealand in the past, and more 

 especially the present time, is of some value in assisting us in solving the 

 problem of insular floras. In a partially occupied country positive evidence 

 can hardly be expected ; however, as the placing on record the time when 

 a new species was first observed, independently of its possible mode of in- 

 troduction, will be of great assistance to future botanists, my friend Mr. 

 T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., suggested I should send a few notes on the dis- 

 covery I made, about six years ago, of three plants of Epacris on the 

 southern side of Manukau Harbour; which have since been determined 

 by him as the Australian E. microphylla. It differs from any of our des- 

 cribed species. 



Shrub 2-3 feet in height, with virgate slender branches, stem often much 

 branched. Leaves cordate, broadly ovate, shortly acuminate, tip slightly 

 recurved, concave, spreading, 3 millimetres long. Flowers small, white, 

 numerous, often one in each axil, almost sessile, or on peduncles 1 mm. 

 long. Bracts and sepals obtuse, or almost acute, sepals 1^-2 mm. long. 

 Corolla tube shorter than the calyx ; lobes 5, as long as the tube. Anthers 

 wholly included. Hypogynous scales short. Style short. Seeds indefi- 

 nite, extremely minute. Commences flowering in February, and attains its 

 maximum of bloom in July. 



The spikes are visited by the bee {Apis mellifica) and a number of small 

 insects (Colaspis). As some of the plants are now growing under slightly 

 changed conditions, it is not improbable then* visits are beneficial. It is a 

 shrub of great fertility and constitutional vigour. Considering it has had 



