Ejrk. — On recent Additions to the New Zealand Flora. 385 



HierocJiloe alpina, Eoem. and Scliultes, var. suhnmtica. 

 H. submutica, P. Muell. 



Danthonia buchanani, J. Buch., " Manual of Indigenous Grasses of New Zealand," 

 p. 87, t. XXXV. (not of Hook, f.) 



This form is intermediate between H. 7-edolens and H. aljmia, btit is 

 most closely related to the latter. The New Zealand plant agrees with 

 that of Victoria in habit, and especially in the lower glumes being scarcely 

 ciliate, but differs slightly in having longer awns, which appear to be always 

 developed. 



The panicle is more open than in H. alpina, the branches are longer and 

 extremely slender, distant, usually drooping. Spikelets 3-6. Leaves broad, 

 flat. 



Hab. — Common in mountain districts, especially on the west coast of 

 the South Island. 



Bentham in "Flora Australiensis " unites H. redoUns and H. alpina, 

 and considers our plant as a connecting form, which may possibly prove 

 worthy of specific honours. 



I fully agree with Mr. Buchanan in keeping H. alpina separate from the 

 European H. borealis, but cannot understand his having mistaken our plant 

 for a Danthonia, especially for D. buchanani, which, independently of its 

 generic and sectional distinctive characters, is described as having a short 

 contracted panicle and fiHform leaves. 

 Stipa ynicrantha, Cav., K. Br. 



Streplackne ramosissima, Trin. and Eupr. 



I have already recorded the occurrence of this species in the colony, 

 and now add that it was originally discovered by Mr. W. T. L. Travers, 

 near Foxhill, in the Nelson District, Recently it has been found in great 

 abundance on the Takaka ranges, Nelson, by the Eev. F. H. Spencer, who 

 informs me that the culms are sometimes from 5 to 6 feet in length. 

 Although formerly inclined to regard it as introduced at Lyall Bay, in the 

 North Island, I am now convinced that it is indigenous in that habitat.* 



The culms are usually from 2 to 5 feet loDg, hard, much branched, the 

 branches being frequently arrested, rounded, bunches at the nodes, but 

 usually they are long and spreading. Panicle from 6 inches to 2 feet in 

 length, branches numerous, capillary, drooping. Spikelets small, outer 

 glumes narrow, nearly equal. Flowering glume shortly stipitate, entire, 

 awn ^ inch long, articulated on the glume. Palea less than half as long as 

 the glume. 



The habit of this species resembles that of MicrolcEna polynoda, but the 

 plant is much larger. 



* " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," vol. x., p. 378. 

 41 



