This is one of the numerous species the discovery of which is due to Mr. Colenso, who for many years was, to use the words of Sir J. D. Hooker, the foremost New Zealand botanical explorer.

He first collected it near Cape Palliser in 1845; and again in 1847 near the summit of the Ruahine Mountains, where it was associated with Caladenia bifolia, figured in the following plate.

Subsequently he obtained it in several other localities on the eastern side of the North Island, where it has also been gathered by Mr. Tryon, Mr. Guthrie-Smith, and others. In 1863 Mr. Buchanan collected it on the uplands of eastern Otago, where, some years afterwards, it was also observed by Mr. Petrie. Mr. Kirk obtained it in a single station in Marlborough; but these two districts are the only known localities in the South Island. It is usually found in Sphagnum bogs, and it ranges from sea-level to 3,500 ft. elevation.

I have never had the good fortune to examine Pterostylis foliata in its native habitat, and am consequently greatly indebted to Mr. Guthrie-Smith for an ample supply of specimens in a fresh state collected by him on the margin of Lake Tutira, in northern Hawke's Bay, and from which the accompanying plate has been prepared.

His specimens proved that the species varies greatly in size, some of them barely exceeding 4 in. in height, while others reached quite 18 in. When fresh the leaves are rather fleshy, and the reticulated veins are by no means obvious; but when dried the leaves become much thinner, and the veins decidedly conspicuous, as shown in the plate. The upper part of the peduncle, the ovary, and occasionally the lateral sepals, are more or less glandular-pubescent, a character that has not been mentioned in previous descriptions of the plant.

As a species P. foliata is allied to P. micromega, but differs in the stouter habit, larger more reticulate and usually rosulate radical leaves, in the cauline leaves being reduced to sheathing-bracts, and in the smaller flowers with much shorter points to the lateral sepals. P. Oliveri is separated by the same characters, and by the much larger conspicuously decurved flower.

According to Dr. Schlechter, it is closely, allied to the New Caledonian P. Bureauviana, a species
with which I am not acquainted.