botanists that irregular flowers are specially fitted for the visits of insects, and if this view is correct all the plants which belong to this order are more or less entomophilous. The flowers of Pratia (with which those of Lobelia and Colensoa agree pretty closely), are extremely irregular. The corolla tube is split to the base at the back, while in front it stands somewhat horizontal, and affords a convenient landing stage for small insects. It is usually white in colour, with very bright blue or purple guiding lines converging to its base, where a considerable amount of honey is secreted. The style, which is two-lobed above, is surrounded by the connate anthers when the flower newly opens, and the column is thus bent forward at its summit, so as to slightly arch over the horizontal corolla-tube. The stamens are proterandrous, as in Wahlenbergia, and just as in those flowers, the style lengthens out of the staminal tube, carrying out the pollen with it, and then the two stigmatic faces, which up to this time have been in close contact, expand widely and expose a large papillose surface. These flowers are quite incapable of self-fertilization. Nat. Ord. Goodeniaceæ. The fertilization of Selliera radicans has been already fully and clearly described by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman.* “Trans. N. Z. Inst.” Vol. IX. p. 542. This species is exclusively insect-fertilized. Nat. Ord. Ericeæ. There are really only two genera (Gaultheria and Pernettya) of this large order in New Zealand. Gaultheria antipoda is remarkable for the tendency towards separation of the sexes which it exhibits; standing alone in this respect—as far as I am aware—in the order. In some of its forms truly hermaphrodite flowers are found, and in these the stamens mature considerably before the stigmas. In others, the stamens occur in a more or less aborted form, until a stage is reached where the anthers are represented by small bent portions on the summit of a diminished filament. I have never found a purely pistillate form with no trace of anthers, nor have I found a male form showing a diminished pistil. In all those of course in which abortion of the stamens has taken place, cross-fertilization must take place to secure the production of seed, and from the nature of the flower this can only be accomplished by insect-agency. In the hermaphrodite flowers, even if not absolutely essential, it must frequently take place. The corolla always contains honey at its base. Gaultheria rupestris, which is a much more conspicuously flowered plant