NECKERACEAE. 263 
Meteortum Doz. & Molk., Muse. Arch. Ind. ined., p. 157, 
emend. Broth. 
Meteorium nitens H. f. & W., PL N.Z. ii, 101 (1855); Handb. N.Z. 
Fl., p. 460. (Plate X, fig. 8 3.) 
Syn. Pilotrichella nitens Jaeg. Adumbr, ii, 772. 
This rare plant so far as I am aware is oe only from a couple 
of stems in Wilson’s herbarium at the Brit. Museum, labelled ‘‘ N. 
Zeald., Sinclair, 1850.’’ The plant does a belong to Pilotrichella 
as now understood ; and while its position is not quite certain and 
perhaps cannot be ‘until fruit is found, it appears to be nearer to 
in the genus as defined by Fleischer; and the cells, though usually 
unipapillate have occasionally two or even three papillae on the 
dium Fleisch., under which are segregated several of the species of 
Meteorium (as understood by i to which the New Zealand 
plant has perhaps the closest affiniiy. Fruit however is needed before 
the true position ean be certainly ascertained. 
The stems are 3-4 inches long, evidently creeping = nC 
with very densely arranged, very equal branches, about 5mm. long, 
not spreading but suberect and almost appressed to the Fi so tha 
the frond is very narrow; the branches are tapering, slightly eurved 
when dry; very densely foliate, but not turgid or terete as in most 
species of Meteorium. The branch leaves are ovate-lanceo late, rather 
quickly narrowed to a_ short, fine, usually half-twisted, cuspidate, 
very finely denticulate point. They are lightly plicate when moist, 
more strongly but irregularly so when dry; the margin is slightly 
undulate and here and there narrowly recurved; the base is slightly 
but not widely spe tg the small, not strongly marked auricles 
being denticulate ai maz rgin. The leaves are imbricated all round as 
branches, and are erect, and rather apie! imbricated, in no way ¢ 
planate, spreading nor reflexed. The nerve reaches about ibe 6 or 
more, and is thin, but quite distinct. The upper cells are extremely 
small and narrow, linear, not opaque nor obscure, mostly with a 
single papilla (more rarely 2 or 3) on the lumen; the papillae though 
extremely minute are quite well marked, so that ‘the leaf is distinetly 
back. 
though very finely muriculate at bac The alar eells are short, 
isodiametrical, obseure, forming quite well marked, but not very 
clearly defined auricles. No flowers or fruit have been found. 
The nearest Speries | are perhaps M. pinnatum 2s & Par. and 
M. -ipigitlese eiian & Par. from go Res and Form 
It is worth while mentioning that M M. Baileyi (Broth.) 
Broth. Fe Queensland, while quite different in habit and leaf form 
other Australasian species of the genus ; and it also ae the cells 
oceasionally at least 2-3-papillate, as in the present spec 
M. nitens was gathered in the North I., according to ao aes 
N.Z. Fl. No nearer locality is specified. 
