A very remarkable plant, in some respects connecting the genera Corallospartium, Carmichaelia, and Notospartium. It agrees with the first in the short turgid subrhomboid 1-seeded pod, and in the groved branchlets, but differs altogether in habit, in the slender branchlets, and in the markedly different inflorescence. From the section Huttonella of Carmichaelia it is separated by the same characters. It entirely corresponds with Notospartium in habit and inflorescence, and has probably been mistaken for that genus in the absence of fruit, which at once distinguishes the two genera.

Although I consider that the characters of Chordospartium fully justify its erection into a separate genus, it must be confessed that the differences between it and Corallospartium are not of a very pronounced type. If, however, differences of habit, inflorescence, &c., are not considered sufficient to separate Corallospartium and Chordospartium, then, by parity of reasoning, similar characters of no greater importance cannot be used to distinguish both these groups from the section Huttonella of Carmichaelia, and the three genera must merge into one. Some botanists may prefer this course, for it is very much a matter of taste and personal idiosyncrasy whichever view is adopted.

I have to express my obligations to Mr. Stevenson for his kindness in forwarding and ample supply of both flowering and fruiting specimens. Most of these were obtained from a tree growing near his house, which he describes as a beautiful specimen, with a stem bare of branches for about 8 ft., above which “it is a perfect weeping model all round for quite 15 ft.” Its girth at about 2 ft. from the ground was 20 in. The flowering season stretches from the middle of November to the end of December, and the fruit is ripe at the beginning of April. I have also to thank Mr. T. Keir, of Rangiora, for placing me in communication with Mr. Stevenson, and for much valuable assistance in obtaining specimens and information. A drawing of the plant, with full analyses, will appear in the forthcoming “Illustrations of the New Zealand Flora.”

3. Senecio Turneri Cheesem. sp. nov.

Affinis S. latifolio Banks et Soland., sed foliis magnis ovato-cordatis distinctissima.

Caulis robustus, 0·6-1·8 m. altus, inferne lignosus, prostratus vel decumbens, nudus; superne erectus, foliatus; versus apicem ramosus. Folia alterna, magna; petioli 15–30 cm. longa, basi longe vaginantes; lamina 10–18 cm. longa, 7–15 cm. diam., cordata vel rotundata-cordata, acuta, membranacea; venis reticulatis; marginibus sinuatis et spinuloso-serratis. Folia caulina minora, petiolis brevioribus, auriculis magnis. Bracteae numerosae, lanceolatae. Corymbi laxo, ramosi; ramis gracilibus. capitula numerosa, 2–3 cm. diam.; involucri squamae 1-seriales, linerares vel lanceolatae, glabrae vel parce pubescentes. Achenia matura non visa. Pappus mollis, copiosus, albus.

Hab.—North Island: On the faces of wet cliffs by the Upper Wanganui River, both above and below the junction of the Mangaio Stream; jE. Phillps Turnre!

A stout glabrous herb 2–6 ft. high. Stem as thick as the finger, woody, prostrate or decumbent and usually naked at the base, leafy above, sparingly branched at the top only. Leaves alternate, large, spreading, bright green, petiole 6–12 in. long, winged at the base and broadly amplexicaul, smooth

and terete above; blade 4–7 in. ling by 3–6 in. across, cordate to orbicular-cordate, deeply lobed at the base, acute at the tip, thin and membranous, veins reticulate, margins sinuate and finely spinuloso-serrate. Caluline leaves smaller, on shorter petioles, with large leafy auricles and smaller narrower blades, gradually passing into lanceolate or linear entire bracts. Corymbs large and broad, much branched;; branches slender. Heads very numerous, ¾-1 ¼ in. diameter, bright yellow; involucral bracts in a single series, linear of obling-linear, acute, glabrous or finely pubescent. Ray-florets 10–15; ligule narrow, spreading; spreading; disc-florets 25–35. Rpe achenes not seen. Pappus soft, copious, white.

One of the most distinct species added to the New Zealand flora of late years. Although allied to S. latifolius, it differs widely in habit, in the large cordate leaves, which are never lobulate or pinnatifid, but have their margins finely spinulose-serrate, in the long terete petioles, and in the larger flower-heads. I have much pleasure in dedicating it to its zealous discoverer, who has done excellent botanical work in the interior of the North Island of late years.

Mr. Turner remarks, “As far as at present noticed, the plant is restricted to the mouth of the Mangaio Gorge and the steep papa clifis of the Wanganui River above and near the junction, but I have found only one place at which it can be conveniently reached. It is associated with Ourisia macrophylla, Senecio latifolius, Elatostemma rugosum, and Lomaria capensis, and grows only were the cliffs are wet and shaded. From a little distance the large bright-green leaves give the plant somewhat the appearance of the arum lily.”

4. Thelymitra Matthewsii Cheesem. sp. nov.

T,. vaiiegata Lindl. affinis, sed caule multo breviore, floribus singularibgus, gynostemio non cristato.

Caulis gracilis, flexuosus, 9–14 cm. longus. Folium solitarium, 3–6 cm. longum, spiraliter contortum, lineare, basi ampliato. Bracteae 2. Flos solitarius, ratione plantae magnus, 1–2 cm. diametro. Perianthium subregulare, patens. Sepala et petala simila, lanceolata vel ovatp-lanceolata, acuta vel acuminata. Gynostemium breve, bialatum, aliis magnis, crassis, clavatis aut lobatis.

Hab.—North Island: Mangonui County, low hills between Lake Tongonge and the coast; R. H. Matthews!

Stem slender, wiry, flexuose, 4–6 in. high. Leaf solitary, sheathing the stem at eh base, the sheath finely and closely puberulous; lanina 1 ½-2 ½ in. long, much expanded at the base, and then suddenly narrowed into a linear blade, which is usually spirally twisted so as to coil round the stem; margins involute. Bracts 2, the lower one below the middle of the stem, the upper almost close to the flower, both broad and sheathing Flower solitary, large for the size of the plant, ½-¾ in. diameter. Perianth-segments alike, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, acute or shortly acuminate. dark purplish-blue with darker longitudinal veins. Column much shorter than the perianth-segments, ot produced at the back behind the anther, and which are oblong or oblong-falcate, obtuse, somewhat flattened but thick and fleshy, not lobed nor furnished with cilia. Occasionally there Anther very large, oblong, obtuse. Base of the column purplish; lateral jobes and anther bright yellow.