Rostkowva. | JUNCACEHAE. 291 
Buchenau confines the genus Rostkovia to R. magellanica, reviving Desvaux’s 
name of Marsippospermum for the three remaining species. But Hooker and Bentham, 
in the “Genera Plantarum,” point out that at present Rostkovia constitutes a natural 
and well-defined genus, easily distinguishable by habit alone, and that the differences 
relied upon by Buchenau to separate his two groups are in reality much less pronounced . 
han those which divide well-known species of Juncus, as, for instance, J. bufonius and 
T. acutus. | 
. 
tufted. Stems many, crowded, erect, terete, 4-9 in. high. Leaves several, 
equalling or exceeding the stems, sheathing at the base, erect, rigid, 
pungent, polished, channelled in front. Flower solitary, terminal, }in. 
1. R. magellanica look. f. Fl. Antarct. i (1844) 81.—Perennial, densely | 
long; bracts 2, the lower foliaceous, twice as long as the-flower or | 
more, upper small, scarcely equalling the flower. Perianth-segments nearly | 
equal, linear-oblong, acute. Stamens shorter than the seoments ; filaments 
linear ; anthers longer than the filaments, connective unguiculate. Capsule 
large, equalling or exceeding the perianth, ovoid-globose, mucronate, hard 
and almost woody, dark-chestnut, smooth and shining. Seeds obovoid, 
inappendiculate.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 291; Buchen. Monog. Junc. 
(1890) 70; Pflanzenr. Heft 25 (1906) 40. R. sphaerocarpa Desv. in 
Journ. Bot. 1 (1808) 234; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl, (1906) 722. Juncus 
magellanicus, Lam. Hnycl. iii (1789) 266. a, Siew Ee pHa. Ga. 150 > 220. 
AUCKLAND AND CAMPBELL IstanDS: Mossy and springy places on the hills, 
Hooker, B. OC, Aston / 
Also recorded from Fuegia, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia, and said 
to have been gathered on the Andes of Quito at an elevation of 13000 ft. It is included 
in Armstrong’s list of Canterbury plants (Trans. N.Z. Inst. xii (1880) 344), but, 
I believe, erroneously. 
PUR Drea ty Ape DA Bn ON 2 pu AQ, (r-a-<rl» ee) [ae oe a 
2. R. gracilis Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i (1844) 83, t. 47.—Perennial, anupea- 
densely tufted. Rhizome stout, horizontal or inclined. Stems numerous, “ae**—o4 
crowded, erect, terete, smooth, 6-12in. high, base with several pale or (QR .c¢ \Qu9 
dark fulvous sheaths. Leaves 1-3, from slightly longer to 2 or even 3 > ae 
times as long as the stems, slender, terete, rigid, grooved in front. Flower 
large, solitary, terminal, 4-?in. long; bract solitary, very small, +, in. 
long, entire er 2-lobed. Perianth-segments linear-subulate, pale-chestnut, 
shining, the inner conspicuously shorter. Stamens 6, much shorter than 
the segments ; filaments very short, broad and flat; anthers linear, 3 or 4 
times as long as the filaments, connective unguiculate. Capsule about 
4in. long, narrow ovoid-oblong, obtusely trigonous, acute, chestnut-brown, 
coriaceous, smooth and shining, 3-valved. Seeds numerous, small, pale, 
produced at both ends into a long pearly-white appendage.—Handb. 
N.Z. Fl. (1864) 292; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 722; Ill. N.Z. Fl. ii 
(1914) t. 203, R. novae-zealandiae Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. iv (1872) 
227, t. 16.,/Marsippospermum gracile Buchen. in Abh. Nat. Ver. Brem. vi 
= 
(1879) 374; Monog. June. (1890) 68. iq. S.  tetcA UT: 1&6 
SoutH Istanp: Not uncommon in alpine localities, especially in the central and 
western portions of the Island, usually between 4500—7000ft. AtucKLAND AND 
CAMPBELL IsLANDS: Not uncommon in rocky places, 500-1200 ft. December— 
February. 
Kasily distinguished from the preceding species by the larger flower, relatively 
smaller capsule, and tailed seeds. Mr. Buchanan’s R. novae-zeqlandiae was published 
in the belief that the Auckland Islands plant always had the leaves solitary and 2 or 3 
times longer than the stems, but in point of fact both New Zealand and Auckland Islands 
specimens are variable in the number and length of the leaves. 
10* 
