3. × Scirpus prolifundus hybr. nov.?

(S. inundatus var. major × prolifer)

Plantae quam S. inundato var. majore robustiores, spicularum capitis majoribus, spiculis longioribus latioribusque, nucibus minoribus. Quam S. prolifero capitis minoribus, spiculis brevioribus, nucibus saepe turbinatis modo S. inundati. Illae plantae inter S. inundatum et S. proliferum intermediae sunt.

Differs from S. inundatus var. major in the more robust habit, larger heads, more numerous, longer, and broader spikelets, and smaller nutlets. From S. prolifer it differs in the smaller heads, shorter spikelets, and the not infrequent occurrence of a small conical point on the nutlet as in S. inundatus.

North Island: Hamilton, Waikato. H. B. Matthews! Matatoki, Thames, H.C.

4. × Scirpus prolifulcus hybr. nov. ?

(S. prolifer × sulcatus var. distigmatosus)

A S. sulcato var. distigmatoso capitis latioribus, spiculis permultis, longioribusque, et nucibus minoribus, angulatis, planis sed non politis differt. A S. prolifero spiculis paucioribus et brevioribus differt. Haec planta quam S. sulcato plus proliferosa est.

Differs from S. sulcatus var. distigmatosus in the broader heads, more numerous longer spikelets, and smaller, often angled, nuts. From S. prolifer it differs in being rather less robust, with fewer and shorter spikelets. It is more proliferous than S. sulcatus usually is.

The resemblances to both suggested parents are very noticeable.

Mr. V. S. Summerhayes says of it: “this is not typical. Perhaps it is a hybrid with S. prolifer Rott., the spikelets are rather long for S. sulcatus.”

North Island: Glen Eden, Auckland. H.C.

5. Pittosporum Colensoi Hook. f.

Some time ago I sent to Kew for determination of suite of specimens labelled “Pittosporum Colensoi” consisting of individuals grown in private and public gardens and in the wild. Some of these with leaves 3–5 cm. long, rather thin in texture, and with slightly waved margins are duplicates from well known herbaria. Accompanying these were specimens with leaves 5–12 cm. long, very coriaceous with unwaved margins.

Reporting on the smaller leaved specimens Mr. Summerhayes says:—“I cannot draw any satisfactory line between Pittosporum tenuifolium Banks and Sol. and P. Colensoi Hook. f. from the material available. I am of opinion that they are either extreme forms of one species or else they hybridise so freely that most of specimens collected are hybrids.”

Of the large-leaved specimens collected by Cockayne, Petrie, Matthews, and myself on the Central Volcanic Plateau and in Taranaki he reports:—

“These may more correctly be named P. Colensoi, with rather long leaves, but the differences do not seem to be sufficient for varietal distinction. The specimens sent have leaves 5–12 cm. long × 2–3.5 cm. wide, i.e. 3 times as long as broad (average).

The type of P. Colensoi has leaves 4–7 cm. long × 1,5–3 cm. wide, i.e. 2.5 times as long as broad (average). More material of both (P. Colensoi and P. tenuifolium) are required to get any sound ideas on the subject.”

The probabilities seem to be that the long-leaved form common on the Volcanic Plateau is true P. Colensoi, and that the intermediate forms with smaller, thinner, and more or less undulate leaves are hybrids between P. Colensoi and P. tenuifolium.

6. Hebe Corriganii sp. nov.

Frutex parvus, de base ramosissimus, in habitu patens vel densus, 1–1.5 m. altus, ramis teretis, glabrosis. Folia valde virides supra pallidiores infra, patentes primo tune valde recurvata, breviter petiolata vel fere sessiles, 13–19 cm. longa, 16 mm. lata, linearo-lanceolata, acuminata, ad basem petiola brevi, lata contracta, carinata, marginibus incondite sed distincte dentatis. Racemae folia fere aequantes, potius laxe florentes, cylindricales, rhachis pediculaeque puberulosi. Flores magni, 6 mm. diam. in pediculis brevibus, pallide purpurei vel albi. Calyx 4-partitus, segmentis oblongis, obtusis, glabrosis. Tubus corollarum latus, bis tanto calyce, artubus 4-(raro 5-) lobatus, longis oblongis, vel ovato-oblongis, obtusis vel subacutis, staminis longis, exsertis. Capsula granda, 8 mm. longa, calyce triplice, angusto-ovata compressa, acuta.

A small shrub much branched from the base, open or rather dense in habit 1–1.5 m. high, branches rather stout, terete glabrous. Leaves dark green above, paler below, spreading at first then strongly recurved, very shortly petiolate or almost sessile, 13–19 cm. long × 16 mm. in breadth at the widest part, linear-lanceolate, gradually tapering to an acute point, narrowing at the base to a short, broad petiole, strongly keeled, margins, from about the middle, irregularly but distinctly toothed. Racemes about equalling the leaves in length, rather loosely flowered, cylindrical rhachis and pedicels, puberulous. Flowers rather large, 6 mm. in diam., on short pedicels, pale lilac or white. Calyx 4-partite, segments oblong, obtuse, glabrous. Corolla tube broad, about twice as long as the calyx, limbs 4- (rarely 5-) lobed, lobes oblong or ovate-oblong, obtuse or sub-acute. Stamens long, exserted. Capsules large, 8 mm. long, 3 times as long as calyx, narrow ovate, compressed, acute.

North Island: McLaren's Falls, near Tauranga (Bay of Plenty). D. Corrigan! B. Sladden! South Island: near Westport, W. Townson, ex Herb. Cheeseman.

From H. salicifolia this very distinct species differs in the longer, narrower, distinctly toothed leaves, larger flowers and much larger capsules which almost equal those of H. macrocarpa.

Mr. B. Sladden, of Tauranga, to whom I am indebted for seedlings and cuttings of this plant and notes on its habit, says “…. it grows on the banks of the upper reaches of the Wairoa River (Bay of Plenty) and tributary streams. These streams flow through rocky gorges with small flats along the margin of the water, and in such localities the new Hebe grows abundantly …. The new Hebe appears to favour situations quite close to the running water.”