FLORA VITIENSIS. 313 
anno 1775), Isle of Pines (M‘Gillivray !), Tongan Islands (D, Nelson!), New Zealand (Banks and 
Solander!), and Norfolk Island. 
AY. Astelia, Banks et Soland.; Endl. Gen. n. 1051, Flores abortu polygamo-dioici. Peri- 
gomum 6-partitum, semiglumaceum, persisteus. Stamina 6, imo perigonio inserta. Ovarium 3- 
loculare y. dissepimentis incompletis 1-loculare, placentibus parietalibus 8. Oyula oo. Stylus 0; 
stigmata 3, obtusa. Bacca 1-3-locularis, co-sperma.—Herbe habitu fere Tillandsie, et sepius 
pariter in arborum truucis vivis v, emortuis pseudo-parasitice ; radice fibrosa, foliis radicalibus imbri- 
eatis, lanceolato-linearibus y. ensiformibus, carinatis v. ecarinatis, sepius utringue v. subtus adpresse 
villosis, basi sericeo-lanatis, caule 0 vy. brevi planifolio, floribus racemosis v. paniculatis, rariusve sub- 
solitariis, pedicellis hand articulatis, unibracteatis, floribus extus sericeis.—Hamelinia, A. Rich. Fl. 
N. Zeal. p. 158. t. 24. Fuakia, Willd. in Berl. Mag. vol. ii. p, 19. Melanthium, Forst. in Comm. 
Gott. vol, ix, p. 80. t. 6. 
This genus is represented in New Zealand and Australia by several species, and in the Hawaiian 
Islands by 1. Menziesiana, Smith, collected by Menzies, and by 4. veratroides, Gaud., collected by D. 
Nelson and Macrae. ; 
1, A, montana, (sp. nov.) Seem. (Tab. XCV.); caule sericeo-lanato; foliis e basi ovato 
elongato-linearibus, 3-nerviis, margine recurvis, supra glabris lucidis, subtus ad nervos marginesque 
villosis; floribus racemoso-paniculatis, perigon, foliolis linearibus; antheris ovatis acuminatis ; baceis 
ovatis 3-locularibus—Nomen yernac. Vitiense, “ Misi.”—Summit of Buke Levu Mountain, Island 
of Kadavu, on trees (Seemann! un. 641). 
Stem covered with white silky wool. Leaves from 2-3 feet long, and 14-2 inches broad, with three 
primary veins, glabrous with the exception of the margin and vems. Panicle supported at base by large 
leaf-like bracts, cordate at base. Tlowers greenish. Ovary 3-celled, 
The leaves are arranged like those of many epiphytical Bromeliacee, and acting as a kind of rain 
gauge, the centre of the plant is always filled with water, which, on our ascent of Buke Levu, we found 
sufficiently fresh to make tea with, as described in my ‘ Viti,’ p. 214. 
Expnanarion or Prare XCY., representing Astelia montana, Seem.—Portion of the entire plant; 
panicle; 3, flower; 4, stamens; 5, berry; 6, seed:—gs, 38-6 magnified. 
Orpvo CII. COMMELYNACEZ:. 
I. Commelyna, Dill. Hort. Elth. p. 93; Endl. Gen. n. 1028, ex parte, Perigomii exterioris 
foliola 8, extus calyeina, persistentia; interiora 8 v. 2, petaloidea, unguiculata, decidua, tertio sreplus 
dissimili v. abortivo. Stamina 6 ¥. pauciora, 3 fertilia; filamenta glabra, in connectivum reniforme 
dilatata; antherz loculis divaricatis, connectivum marginantibus, 5 (v. 2-4), dissimiles, caste: 
Ovarium 38-loculare, loculis pauciovulatis. Stylus filiformis, simplex; stigma indivisum. Capsula 
3-locularis, loculicido-3-valvis, valvis medio septiferis, loculis lateralibus 2-ovulatis, dorsali 1-oyulato. 
Semina subquadrata,—Herb diffuse v. erecte, foliis ovatis v, lanceolatis; foribus fasciculatis 
inyolueratis v. nudis yage paniculatis. 
1. G. Pacifica, Vahl, Enum. vol. ii. p. 168; caulibus repentibus, glabris; foliis breviter 
petiolatis, oblongis, subovato-oblongis et oblongo-lanceolatis, superioribus sessilibus, supra margine- 
que seabriusculis, subtus glabris; vaginis antice oreque ciliatis; spathis oppositifoliis, cordato-ovatis, 
acuminatis, complicatis, glabris, plerumque ciliolatis; pedunculis in spatha geminis, 3d—4-floris ; 
exserto, glabro vy. hirtello; floribus polygamis; sepalo exterivre impari subsessili, subrotundo-ovato, 
