Juncus inflexus L. (Juncaceae). Distinguished from other species of the subgenus Junci genuini found in New Zealand by the very glaucous colour, the 12–18 prominent stem ridges, and the glossy, dark-brown, mucronate capsules, this species was first recorded by Kirk (1878a: 393–4) from between Hokitika and Ross (as J. glaucus L.). It has been found near Napier, N. L. Elder, 1944 (42794, 42795), and near Taradale, Hawke's Bay, 1950 (78760).

Lathyrus nissolia L. (Papilionaceae). Recorded from Ashburton County by Smith (1904: 219), this inconspicuous species was found near Patangata, Hawke's Bay, S. H. Saxby, 1949 (70183). Through the kindness of R. P. Hill, Department of Agriculture, Hastings, who was present when the re-discovery was made, I was able to examine the occurrence of this species. It grows sparingly through ungrazed grass and weeds on roadside banks, and was difficult to detect owing to the narrow leaves and presence of fruits of associated species of Vicia. It was absent from adjacent stocked pastures, and appeared to be restricted to a matter of a few chains along a single roadside. The plant could well occur elsewhere in New Zealand, but pass unnoticed owing to the peculiar habit.

Limnanthes douglasii Nuttall (Limnanthaceae). A North American species, recorded as widely distributed in Ashburton County by Smith (1904: 208) (as Limnanthus douglasii), it has been collected from a roadside near Warkworth, North Auckland, by a farmer and forwarded through the Department of Agriculture, 1951 (73297).

Polygonum prostratum R. Br. (Polygonaceae). Australian in origin, this species was first recorded by Kirk (1882: 383–4) thus “In several places by the Wairarapa Lake—Harry Borrer Kirk.”, with the identical record being republished a year later by Kirk (1883: 388). Several plants were collected from the shore of Lake Rotokawau, Rotorua County, 1947 (82808), but no further evidence of the species was found by examination of the shores of this or other lakes in the district.

Tragopogon pratensis L. (Compositae). Distinguished from the well established T. porrifolius L. by its yellow florets, T. pratensis was recorded on several occasions from different localities, but no New Zealand material has been seen. Earlier records are: Hooker (1867: 760), Auckland, on authority of Kirk (as T. minus L.); Kirk (1870: 139), Auckland district (as T. minor Fries); Kirk (1871: 160), Auckland Isthmus (as T. minor Fries); J. F. Armstrong (1872: 288), Canterbury (as T. minor Fries); Cheeseman (1883: 287), Auckland district (as T. pratensis L. var. minor); Smith (1904: 220), Ashburton County (as T. pratense L.)

The species has been collected from the Springfield district, Canterbury, H. Talbot 1954 (83284), and is stated to be not uncommon there.

Talbot's specimens do not match exactly description of the three subspecies given by Clapham (1952: 1123), and show the following characters: outer involucral bracts red-bordered, inner pale-bordered; florets about equalling involucral bracts; anthers brownish below when immature, later yellowish below, purplish to violet above; mature fruits not seen; immature fruits muricate.

Veronica chamaedrys L. (Scrophulariaceae). This Eurasian species was recorded, by Thomson (1875: 374) from “Pastures in Taieri Plain”; apparently referring to the same occurrence, he writes subsequently (1922: 457)–“In 1870, in a field of newly broken up land in Southland, sown with grass-seed imported from Lawson & Sons, Edinburgh, there came up and flowered several plants of Veronica chamaedrys, Linn.” Further (p. 458), he notes it as “Found (1917) growing among lawn-grass in Dunedin by Mrs. G. S. Thomson.”

The species was found sparingly established in damp situations about margins of a forest remnant and in rank grass along a creek, Trentham, Hutt Valley, 1952 (78751). Observations made over the 1952–53 summer showed capsules to be rarely formed, and it appears that spread is vegetative by means of prostrate rooting stems.