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Art. XXXII.—On some Additions to the Flora of the Mangonui County.
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 11th December, 1912]
Since my paper “On the Flora of the Mangonui County” was published (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 43, 1911), a few botanical discoveries worthy of note have been made.
Hypericum japonicum Thunb.
Owing to a clerical error, I omitted this species from the catalogue of plants. It is not uncommon in damp places.
Corokia Cheesemanii Carse sp. nov.
Corokia pps. sp. nov. Carse, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 43, p. 201, 1911.
In my paper I referred to this, mentioning that it was probably similar to one found by Mr. Cheeseman in the North Cape district. I had not then seen specimens of Mr. Cheeseman's plant, nor flowering specimens of the Tauroa plant. I have recently been able to compare the two and am convinced that they are identical, and also that they are markedly different from the already acknowledged species. I have much pleasure, therefore, in dedicating the new species to Mr. Cheeseman, its original discoverer. The specific description is as follows:—
Frutex erectus, ramosus, 1.5–3.5 m. altus. Rami graciles, foliosi, non tortuosi nec intertexti; ramulis, foliia subtus, et inflorescentia argenteotomentosis. Folia alterna, 3–5 cm. longa, elliptico-oblonga vel oblongo-lanceolata, petiolis brevissimis. Flores fasciculati vel in paniculas terminales paucifloras dispositi, circa 10 mm. diam., petalis oblongo-lanceolatis. Drupae oblongae, 7 mm. diam., 10 mm. longae, rubrae.
Hab.—North Island: Spirits Bay, North Cape district; T.F.C.! Tauroa, in woods; H. B. Matthews! H. C.
Flowers: October–November.
A slender shrub, 1.6–3.5 m. high. Branches spreading, not tortuous nor interlacing as in C. cotoneaster. Young shoots, under-surface of leaves, and inflorescence densely clothed with silvery-white torn en turn. Leaves alternate, 3–5.5 cm. long, elliptic-oblong to oblong-lanceolate. Petioles very short, or lengthened and flattened, as in C. cotoneaster. Flowers similar to those of C. cotoneaster, but narrower in the petals, in fascicles of 2–4 in the axils of the leaves or of small branches, or in terminal panicles. Drupe obovoid-oblong or oblong, 7 mm. in diameter, 10 mm. long.
This description applies to the type specimens, but the plant appears to pass by regular gradations into C. cotoneaster on the one hand, and into C. buddleoides on the other, with a tendency in one form to a broadening of the leaves, bringing the species very close to the Chatham Island C. macrocarpa. At present I have not seen the fruit of the last-mentioned form.
The typical form is very distinct. From C. buddleoides it differs in its smaller size, smaller and proportionally broader leaves, which are usually more obtuse, in the fewer-flowered and less-leafy panicles. From C. cotoneaster it is distinguished by the absence of tortuous and interlacing branches,
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those of C. Cheesemanii standing out straight at an angle of 45°, by the larger, oblong, and usually apiculate leaves, by the usually paniculate inflorescence, and by the oblong drupe.
Coprosma crassifolia Col.
A few plants only found in woods at Tauroa. Hokianga is the northern limit given in the Manual.
Sonchus asper Hill var. littoralis Kirk.
Occurs plentifully on damp sea-cliffs. This looks very distinct from, the common prickly sowthistle, and is, I think, worthy of specific rank.
Thelymitra Matthewsii Cheeseman sp. nov.
A dainty and apparently rare species, known only from a very restricted area between Lake Tangonge and the west coast. The small size and the curious spiral twist of the leaf distinguish it from its congeners. It was named in honour of the late Mr. R. H. Matthews, to whose painstaking investigation we owe so much of our increased knowledge of the orchids of the far north.
Thelymitra imberbis Hook. f.
Mr. H. B. Matthews, who is following in his late father's footsteps as an orchidologist, has recently discovered a variety of this orchid with pale cream-coloured flowers.
Caladenia minor Hook. f.
Mr. Matthews has also dropped on a Caladenia. with greenish-yellow flowers, pink being the usual colour.
Corysanthes Carsei Cheeseman sp. nov.
This is a very tiny plant, ½–⅔ in high, rather difficult to find. It occurs in wet peat associated with Lycopodium Drummondii, Drosera spathulata, Utricularia delicatula, &c. It was discovered by Mr. H. B. Matthews and myself in a morass adjoining Lake Tangonge.
Scirpus sulcatus Thouars var. distigmatosus C. B. Clarke.
Occurs in maritime marshes. So far I have not seen it inland in this district.*
Uncinia pedicellata Kükenthal.
This appears on my list as “Untinia sp. pps. intermediate between U. austtralis and U. riparia.” Specimens which I obtained at Kaitaia were identified as above by Oberpfarrer Kükenthal, the great European authority on the Cyperaceae.
Carex vacillans Sol.
So far in the far north I have seen only a very few poor specimens of this usually common plant.
[Footnote] * Since the above was written this sedge was found by Mr. H. B. Matthews in swampy land adjoining Lake Tangonge.