row-ovoid pale. Glumes 4–8 oblong. Stigmas 2. Fruit plano-convex pale, smooth, tipped with the base of the style.” The Students' Flora of the The British Isles. J. D. Hooker, p. 400.

var. productus. (C. B. Clarke) Kuekenthal.

“Kuekenthal's description of the var. productus is not available. The previous determination was based on specimens which had been sent to Kuekenthal, and which were determined by him as the var. productus. Apparently Kuekenthal reduced Scirpus productus, C. B. Clarke to varietal rank. A description of this species is as follows:

Culmis polynodis, elongatis, foliatis; pedunculis solitariis monostachyis; spicula 5–6 mm. longa; gluma ima angustata, atro-castanea, saepe bracteiforma cum spicula aequilonga; setis 0; stylo 2-fido.

Clarke regards his species as synonymous with Isolepis fluitans var. β (Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. II, p. 86), which is described as “spicules and leaf-sheaths dark-chestnut.” R. H. Anderson, B.Sc., National Herbarium, Sydney.

For many years this species and its variety have been regarded by New Zealand botanists as forms of the nearly allied species Scirpus lenticularis (R. Br.) Poir., a much more robust plant.

Hab., North Island: Waimarino Plain, D. Petrie! H. B. Matthews! H. Carse, var. productus. Lake Tangonge, Kaitaia, (Mangonui Co) R. H. Matthews! H. B. Matthews! H. Carse.

It is more than probable that this plant occurs in still water in many other parts of the Dominion, but as it is almost entirely submerged it is easily overlooked.

4. Schoenus fluitans Hook. f.

“A very singular plant, in habit unlike its congeners and resembling Isolepis fluitans very closely.

“Culms densely tufted rooting at the base in gravel, the main part floating, 2 ft. long, very flaccid and much branched. Leaves narrow linear with membranous sheaths and an evident ligule. Spikelets solitary, terminal, bright pale chestnut, shining, linear, narrow, nearly ½ in. long, much compressed, two-flowered. Scales membranous, not nerved, lower shorter, all linear-lanceolate, sub-acute. Nut pale brown, small, smooth, with a very long persistent style from which the 3 stigmas fall away. Filaments capillary, brown, persistent.” Flora Tasmaniae, p. 81. J. D. Hooker.

This species is now for the first time recorded as indigenous in New Zealand. Mr. L. Rodway, of Hobart, Government Botanist, who kindly compared my specimens with the type, says, “I have examined your specimens of Schoenus fluitans. I have not noted any features which indicate a distinction from the form common to Tasmania.”

The culms of my specimens vary considerably in length according to the depth of the water in which they grow, 6 in. to 3 ft. being the extremes.

Hab., North Island: In running water in various parts of Waimarino Plain. H. B. Matthews!, H. Carse.

It is probable that this species occurs in other parts of New Zealand. It is easily overlooked, as the leaves are usually of a bronzy tinge not readily perceived in the brownish peat water, and only the flowering tips emerge.

5.×Cordyline Matthewsii Carse nov. hybr.

Planta C. australi et C. pumilioni accedens. Caules 1-3 m. longi, 1.5-4 mm. diam. numerosi ab rhizoma communi adscendentes, vel solitarii, procumbentes. Folia apices ramorum versus conferta 3-9 dm. longa, 1-2 cm. lata, anguste linearia, acuminata, coriacea; nervis evidentibus, parallelis, numerosis, plerumque 20-50, Costis prominentibus. Foliorum bases vaginantes, latae ut in C. australe, vel angustae ut in C. pumilione. Paniculae terminales, multiramosae, 1 m. longae. Flores in ramis panicularum distantes ut in C. pumilione vel densi ut in C. australi. Baccae illis C. pumilionis similes, sed majores.

A plant akin to C. australis and C. pumilo. Stems 1-3 m. long, 1.5-4 mm. diam., numerous, ascending from a common rhizome, or solitary procumbent, ascending at the apex. Leaves crowded at the ends of the stems, 3-9 dm. long, 1-2 cm. wide, narrow-linear, acuminate, coriaceous, nerves numerous, 20-50, evident, parallel, midribs, prominent, sheathing bases wide as in C. australis, or narrow as in C. pumilio. Panicle terminal. Much branched, 1 m. long. Flowers distant on the branches of the panicle as in C. pumilio or more crowded as in C. australis. Berries rather larger than in C. pumilio.

Hab., North Island: Oinu Bush, Kaitaia, H. B. Matthews!; Otukai and Kopu Okai, near Kaiaka, H. Carse. (All in Mangonui County).

I have little doubt that this plant, which I have much pleasure in dedicating to Mr. Matthews, its discoverer, is a hybrid between C. australis and C. pumilo. Some forms are almost enlarged replicas of the latter, while more robust forms have the broad sheathing bases of the leaves as in the former plant.

6. Astelia nana Carse sp. nov.

Herba parva epiphytica. Folia pauca, 8-30 cm. longa, 5-10 mm, lata, anguste linearia, inferne attenuata deinde in bases vaginantes expansa, squamis innumerosis, iridescentibus, utrinque vestita; nervi numerosissimi; costa prominens, nervo valde distincto ex lateribus. Scapus simplex, gracilis, tomento fulvo vestitus, 2.5-11 cm. longus; pars fertilis 1.5-3 cm. longa; ± 10 floribus induta. Flores ♂ 5 mm. longi, suffusco-virides; perianthi segmenta lanceolata, patentes, 3 exteriora interioribus longiora. Flores ♀ multo minores. Ovarium globose-ovoideum, stigma longa; baccae globosae, suffuscae 4 mm. diam.

A small tufted epiphyte. Leaves few 8-30 cm. long, 5-10 mm. wide at middle, narrow-linear, tapering to a fine point, narrowed below then expanding into a broad sheathing base, above covered with innumerable minute iridescent scales, below with a silvery pellicle intermixed with similar scales; nerves very numerous, midrib and one on either side of it being more prominent, base of sheath clothed with dense pure white silky hairs. Scape slender, unbranched, densely clothed with fulvous silky hairs, as are the leafy bracts, 2.5-11 cm. to the lowest flower, flowering part 1.5-3 cm. long, ± 10 flowered. Male flowers 5 mm. long, brownish-green, perianth segments lanceolate, spreading, outer three longer than the inner ones, downy on outer surface. Stamens shorter than the segments, anthers oblong. Female flowers much smaller. Ovary ovoid-globose, stigma long for size of ovary, berry globose, yellowish-brown, 4 mm. diam.

Hab., North Island: On trunks of trees, Kaiaka (Mangonui Co); Maungatapere (Whangarei Co); Mauku (Franklin Co), H. Carse.

I first noticed this small Astelia over a quarter of a century ago, but for a considerable time had only male flowers. The plant is not uncommon but appears very shy of flowering. The late T. F. Cheeseman writing, of it said, “This is very puzzling; I have never seen so small a specimen in flower, and the leaves look very different to any of the recognised species.”

7. Nasturtium Wallii Carse sp. nov.

Herba N. fastigiato affinis. Radix fusiformis, longa, robusta; caulis brevissimus. Folia numerosa, radicalia, rosaceo-congesta, coriacea, glabra, lanceolato-spathulata, obtusa, 3.5-17 cm. longa, laminis 2.5-5 cm. longis, 1-2.5 cm. latis, 4-lobatis fere ad costam, lobis obtusis paulo mucronatis. Petioli lati, plani. Folia caulina desunt. Scapi soltarii, simplices, 15-30 cm. alti. Flores numerosi, corymbosi, albi, 10 mm. diam.; petala 10 mm. longa, spathulata, unguibus longis. Siliquae erectae vel incurvatae, utrinque acutae, anguste lineares, 2.5-5 cm. longae, 3 mm. latae. Semina compressa fusco-rubra.

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This plant is allied to N. fastigiatum, from which it is at once distinguished by the larger, more deeply lobed radical leaves and the absence of cauline leaves. Rootstock long, stout, tapering, surmounted by a dense mass of rosulate radical leaves. Leaves 1 ½-7 in. long, lanceolate-spathulate; blade 1-2 in. long, ½-1 in. wide, 4-lobed nearly to the midrib, lobes obtuse, slightly mucronate, narrowed into the broad flat petiole, coriaceous, glabrous; cauline leaves absent. Flowering stems solitary, simple, 6-12 in. high. Flowers numerous, corymbose, white, ⅖ in. diam., petals ⅖ in. long, spathulate on long claws; pods erect or incurved, acute at either end, narrow-linear, 1-2 in. long, 1/12 in. wide. Seeds compressed, brownish-red.

Hab., South Island: Cecil Peaks, Lake Wakatipu at 4000-5000 ft. elevation. A. Wall!

8.×Metrosideros sub-tomentosa Carse nov. hybr.

Arbor M. robustae et M. tomentosae accedens, 4.5-9 m. alta. Truncus brevis, robustus, 5 dm. diam., ramis patulis. Folia decussata, 2.5-5 cm. longa, anguste, elliptica sub-acuta vel sub-acuminata, basim versus angustata, vel elliptico-oblonga, rotundata retusaque, basim versus rotundata. Venae ut in M. robusta. Flores illis M. robustae vel M. tomentosae similes. Pedunculi, calycesque glabrescentes vel leviter-tomentosae.

A much-branched shrub or tree 15-30 ft. high, with a short, stout trunk, 2 ft. diam. Leaves decussate 1-2 in. long, narrow-elliptic, subacute, or sub-acuminate, acute at the base, or elliptic-oblong, retuse, rounded at both ends. Venation as in M. robusta. Flowers dark-crimson in many flowered terminal cymes, peduncles and pedicels less stout than in M. tomentosa with the calyces less tomentose. Calyx tubes and capsules varying in size. Some identical with those of M. robusta, others almost equalling those of M. tomentosa.

Hab., North Island: Lake Taupo, H. Hill (per D. Petrie)! Bank of Whau (tidal creek); Titirangi, (both near Auckland), H. Carse.