Astelia.] , LILIACEAE. S19 
coriaceous, pale-green and shining above, silvery-white beneath; veins 
conspicuous on both surfaces. Upper surface almost glabrous when mature, 
in the young leaves sparingly clothed with minute scurfy scales ; under- 
surface with the spaces between the veins filled with a coating of silvery- 
white scales; basal sheaths white and fleshy at the base. Inflorescence 
consisting of a short stiff erect panicle 2-4 in. long sunk amongst the upper 
foliage-leaves, with few short branches subtended by broad bracts narrowed 
into long acuminate points. Flowers immature in my specimens, but the 
males are described by Cockayne as “ crowded, very shortly pedicelled, 
strongly scented, semi-erect ; perianth-segments linear or ligulate, purplish 
and yellow at the base; filaments stout; anthers black.’ The female 
inflorescence is said to be “shorter than the male; perianth-segments 
ovate, acute, sometimes trifid, pilose at the apex.” Mature fruit not seen. 
SoutH Istanp: Nelson—Buckland Peaks, Petrie! Canterbury—Mount Peel, 
H. H. Allan! Mount Rolleston, Cockayne! Walker’s Pass, R. Brown and Cockayne. 
Westiand—Kelly’s Hill, Petrie and Cockayne. Otago—Humboldt Mountains, Cockayne ; 
Lake Harris Saddle, W. A. Thomson / Altitudinal range from 3500 to 4500 ft. 
A very remarkable little plant, the exact systematic position of which must remain 
doubtful until perfect flowers and fruit have been obtained. Mr. W. A. Thomson, 
who has supplied me with good specimens of the foliage, informs me that it blooms 
very seldom, and Mr. H. H. Allan and Dr. Cockayne make the same observation. 
“t) & yen 
10. A. nivieola Cockayne n. sp. oned.—A tufted herb forming extensive 
patches in moist alpine hollows. Leaves 6-12 in. long, $-+in. broad at the 
middle, coriaceous but flexible, gradually tapering upwards into an acute 
apex, keeled towards the base and stem-clasping, and then suddenly 
expanded into a thin and membranous almost transparent sheath; upper 
surface pale bronzy-green to glaucous-green, covered with a membranous 
pellicle or more or less silky-tomentose; under-surface clothed with thin 
shaggy or villous whitish tomentum; veins variable in number, usually 
about 6 on each side of the rather slender midrib, which is sunken above 
but prominent beneath. Flowers not seen. Fruiting-panicle (one specimen 
alone seen) very short, 2in. long and about as wide, nearly sessile among 
the bases of the uppermost leaves ; branches few, short, densely compacted. 
Berry apparently ovoid-globose, 4-4 in. long, reddish-orange, sunk in the 
persistent base of the perianth. 
SoutH Istanp: Mount Cook district, altitude 4500 ft. and upwards, Cockayne / 
I am indebted to Dr. Cockayne for two specimens of this curious little plant, 
accompanied by MSS. notes, of which I have availed myself in drawing up the above 
description. This will probably need amendment when a full suite of specimens has 
been obtained, 
Annoy? . nn 2 7O 
5. DIANELLA Lam. !766 Sue. 
Giabrous perennial herbs. Rootstock often branched. Leaves 
numerous, crowded at the base of the stem, linear, distichous, equitant 
and sheathing at the base. Flowers pedicellate, nodding, laxly cymose ; 
cymes arranged in a broad open terminal panicle. Perianth marcescent ; 
segments 6, distinct, spreading. Stamens 6, hypogynous, or the 3 inner 
affixed to the base of the segments; filaments thickened; anthers erect 
or recurved, basifixed, opening by terminal pores or short longitudinal 
slits. Ovary sessile or shortly stalked, 3-celled ; ovules 4-8 in each cell ; 
