﻿266 Transactions. — Botany. 



and in the capsules being less than one-half the size of that species. From 

 P. umhellatum it further differs in the tomentose leaves, woody 3-valved 

 capsules, and large seeds, 



13. P. crassifolium, Banks and Sol. An erect shrub or tree, 10 to 30 feet 



high, with black bark, branches stout, young shoots, leaves, and peduncles 

 clothed with white tomentum ; leaves alternate, narrow-obovate or linear- 

 obovate, narrowed into the stout peduncle, acute or obtuse, excessively 

 coriaceous, densely tomentose below, margins recurved. Flowers terminal, 

 solitary or in 2-4-flowered ixmbels ; bracts ovate, ciliate ; pedicels decurved ; 

 sepals linear-oblong, tomentose ; petals i*ecurved, large ; capsules terminal, 

 ^"-\Y in diameter, 3-valved and lobed, on stout decurved pedicels \" long 

 or more, usually solitary when mature ; valves excessively stout and 

 woody, downy. 



Var. strictum — umbels terminal ; capsules 3-5 ; pedicels strict, 



North Island, by the sea, Spirits Bay to Poverty Bay. 



Flowers in September. 



As some confusion appears to exist amongst collectors respecting 

 this very distinct species, I have ventured to add a few chai'acters 

 omitted from its diagnosis in the " Handbook." 



14. P. intermedium, n. s. A small tree with black bark, in habit and foliage 



resembling large specimens of P. tenuifolium ; young leaves and shoots 

 pubescent : leaves 1^-^" long, obovate, acuminate, narrowed at the base, 

 flat, midrib pubescent, slightly coriaceous, erect. Flowers not seen ; cap- 

 sules terminal, on stout curved pedicels, solitary or in 2-3-flowered 

 umbels, ovate-acuminate, ^" in diameter, 3-valved, downy. 



North Island, Kawau Island. 



I give this well-marked form specific rank with some hesitation ; in 

 foliage it resembles large forms of P. tenuifolium, while the capsule 

 partakes of the characters of P. crassifolium and P. elli2)ticvmi. Dr. 

 Hooker and Mr. Colenso consider it a new species, still it is possible 

 that further observation may show the wisdom of uniting it with one or 

 other of the above. I have been tempted to attribute its peculiarities to 

 hybridization. 



15. P. ellipticum, n. s. A small tree, with black bark ; branches erect or 



spreading, puberulous ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, or elliptic, or obovate, 

 obtuse or acute, coriaceous, partially clothed with ferruginous pubescence 

 beneath. Flowers in terminal 2-5-flowered umbels ; pedicels short, 

 decurved, tomentose ; capsules globose, flattened, 2-valved, downy, stout. 

 Sub-species ellipticum, proper. Leaves ovate-lanceolate or elliptic ; in 

 the young state densely clothed on both surfaces with rusty coloured 

 pubescence. Flowers terminal, in 3-5-flowered umbels ; sepals broad. 



