184 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
different grass, much larger, and with flowers entirely setaceous, 
while it differs in form, as shown in the illustrations to the folio 
edition of the “ New Zealand Grasses.” This grass I have named 
Stipa petriet. 
Mr. Kirk calls Stipa setacea (R. Br.), an introduced grass ; 
but it surely can put in as strong a claim as an indigene as 
Stipa macrantha (Cav), better known in New Zealand as Strep- 
tachne vamoissima (Trin.), which Mr. Kirk has declared an indigene. 
In the article, “New Zealand Olives,” vol. XIV., page 378, 
under this title, will be found the following by Mr. Kirk :—“On 
the other hand, Olea Cunninghamit is the Santalum Cunninghamii of 
Buchanan’s list of Wellington plants, and its wood has been 
distributed from the Colonial Museum under the name of 
Santalum.” Tf this doubtful statement could have proved credi- 
table to the Museum it would not have been mentioned, and at 
the time referred to—i12 years ago—Mr. Kirk knew as little 
about our native olives as Buchanan did, neither flowers nor 
fruit of any of the species having then been seen, and the 
whole of them being only known by the name Maire. 
In vol. XIV., page 387, occurs the following :—“ Stilbocarpa 
polaris (Dcne. and Planche). I have been much interested in 
observing three specimens from the Auckland Islands, cultivated 
in the Wellington Botanic Gardens, side by side with a strong 
specimen from Stewart Island. Two have entirely lost their 
characters, and exactly resemble the latter. There is no differ- 
ence in the inflorescence of plants from the two habitats, and 
both alike give off strong scions.” It is difficult to believe that 
any unprejudiced observer could write this. They are no doubt 
most distinct species, as shown by flowers, fruit, and leaves ; and 
Mr. Armstrong, in describing the Stewart Island plant as a new 
species, has only done what any observant botanist would have 
done under the circumstances. 
There is only one other of Mr. Kirk’s criticisms that I shall 
notice, in vol. XIV. “Trans. N. Z. Institute,” page 388, under 
the title of “ Plants from Campbell Island ”:—“ Poa foliosa (Hook, 
fil). The typical form recorded by Buchanan in his ‘ Hand- 
book of the New Zealand Grasses, from the Snares and 
Chatham Islands, in the latter case incorrectly, Festuca scopana, 
which is omitted from his list of Chatham Island plants, having 
been mistaken for it.” This is a mysterious statement, for in no 
part of, thes” Handbook” can I find the least reference to this 
grass or any of its varieties as being found in the Chatham — 
Islands. How then could it have been mistaken for Festuca 
scoparia? All the grasses in the Chatham Islands collected by — 
Travers were named by Baron von Mueller; and if Festuca — 
scoparia was not in his, list it had not been collected. 
In conclusion, Mr. Kirk cannot complain that the “ Handbook 
of the New Zealand Grasses” has not afforded him a good field 
for criticism ; but that it may not have proved so satisfactory to 
himself as he expected can only be regretted.—I am, etc, 
Wellington, June 26. | JOHN BUCHANAN. 
EE a ee 
