The present species is referred to Xeronema, a genus hitherto known by a single species, X. Moorei, from New Caledonia. X. Callistemon is distinguished by its much larger size, by the perianth-leaves being alternately wide and narrow, by the leaves being excavated on the inner edge, and especially by the form of the fruit, which is abruptly produced at the angles just below the centre and dehisces above and below (fig. 2). X. Moorei is known to me only by descriptions and figures, but I have little hesitation in describing the New Zealand plant as a distinct though closely allied species of the same genus. Distribution: Xeronema Callistemon is known only from the Poor-Knights Islets, off the north-east coast of New Zealand. It is there extremely common on exposed rocky faces on the higher portions of the islands. The huge tussocks can easily be seen from the sea. It was not found in the shade of the forest or near the shore. Time of flowering: At the time of visit a few flowering racemes only were found, unripe fruit was plentiful, and a few heads of ripe capsules were collected. Relationships: Xeronema now consists of two species, one occurring in New Caledonia, the other in New Zealand. The discovery of X. Callistemon adds another species to an interesting group which allies the flora and fauna of New Zealand to that of New Caledonia. Other genera belonging to this group are Meryta, Rhabdothamnus, Corynocarpus, Agathis, and Knightia among plants, and the land-snail Placostylus. According to Engler's arrangement (Die nat. Pflanzenf., Teil 2, Abt. 5, 1888, p. 38), Xeronema is a somewhat isolated member of the Liliaceae, forming with Herpolirion the subsection Xeroneminae of the subfamily Asphodeloideae. Herpolirion is a monotypic genus of small herbs confined to the mountains of New Zealand, Tasmania, and south-east Australia. The characters in which these two genera agree are the free perianth-leaves, numerous seeds, and distichous leaves. Xeronema Callistemon was collected by the Dominion Museum expedition which visited the Poor Knights Islands in December, 1924. Shortly after the party landed, Mr. H. Hamilton brought a specimen into camp, and the following day I came across a large patch near the summit of the island. Later Mr. W. M. Fraser, Whangarei Harbour Engineer, who joined the expedition during its stay in the group, and who knew of the existence of this unusual species, piloted us to where the plant grew more abundantly, and good specimens and photographs were taken. For the opportunity of comparing specimens of Xeronema Callistemon with Brongniart and Gris's plate of X. Moorei I have to thank the Director of the Sydney Botanie Gardens. Drimys Forst. The usage of Wintera for the New Zealand species hitherto referred to Drimys calls for comment. Hutchinson, in the Kew Bulletin, 1921, p. 190, has restricted Wintera to the New Zealand species, and used Drimys for the remaining species of the genus as generally understood. Drimys was founded by J. R. and G. Forster in 1776 (Characteres Genera Plantarum, p. 84) for the two species D. Winteri and D. axillaris. The former belongs to South America, the latter to New Zealand, and both are described and figured in the work mentioned. In 1781 Linné fils (Suppl. plant Syst. veg.) uses Drimys for D. granatensis and D. axillaris. This is practically the same usage as the Forsters', for D. granatensis is synonymous