[Read before the Auckland Institute, 29th June, 1874.]

In the spring of 1868, while journeying up the course of the Kaueranga River, at the Thames Gold-fields, I observed in several localities a white-rayed Senecio, evidently differing in a marked degree from any known species. Unfortunately, the specimens collected on this occasion were accidentally lost before I had an opportunity of carefully examining them; and although I revisited the locality in 1870, it was at too advanced a period of the year to procure flowers. Last year, however, I was fortunate enough to again find the plant, not only in the district where I originally discovered it, but also in other portions of the gold-field. It may thus be described:—

Senecio myrianthos, n. sp. A slender sparingly branched shrub or small tree, with purplish black bark. Young leaves and branches covered with a thin buff tomentum. Leaves four to five inches long, membranous, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, generally unequal at the base, sharply and coarsely doubly serrate, when adult glabrous above, but covered beneath with a thin silvery-white closely appressed tomentum. Primary veins few, conspicuous on both surfaces, forming large areoles. Petioles one to two inches long. Panicles terminal, leafy, large, often over two feet long, but narrow for the length; peduncles and pedicels slender, with a short and thick covering of purplish brown glandular hairs. Ultimate bracts narrow subulate, or almost filiform. Heads numerous, campanulate, 1/3 inch long. Scales of the involucre about eight, scarious, linear obtuse, glabrous or nearly so. Ray florets four to six, ligules broad, very short, not 1/8 of an inch, white; disc florets about the same number, campanulate above the middle, five-toothed. Stigmas exserted; anthers slightly tailed. Pappus hairs in a single series, white, prominently denticulate, slightly thickened at the apex. Ripe achenia not seen.

Habitat.—Kaueranga River, Karaka, Tararu, and Puru Creeks; and other localities at the Thames. It is probably not uncommon throughout the Cape Colville peninsula.

A most charming plant, covered when in bloom with large panicles of deliciously sweet-scented white flowers. From the other species of Senecio, native to New Zealand, it can easily be distinguished by the slender habit; thin, membranous leaves; the peculiar indumentum on the branches of the inflorescence; the scarious, nearly glabrous scales of the involucre; and the short ligules to the ray florets. The beauty of the flowers will doubtless obtain it a place in both Colonial and European gardens.