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eucdyptoides, et myrtifolia, A. Outrn. Prodr. Tariat foliis anguste lineai’i-lanceolatis et late obovatis, ju-
nioribus oppositis panctolatis margine crispatis.
Hab. Northern Island. From tlie east coast northwards, Cunningham, etc. Nat. name, “ Maire,”
This IS one of innumerable instances of the impropriety of adopting native names for scientific purposes.
Tins plant is not the “ Mida ” of the New Zealander, as Mr. Colenso assures me, bnt the “ Maire,” and closely resembles
Fugenia Maire, the “ Maire Tawake.” I have hence uot hesitated to suppress a name which conveys no
meaning to botanists in general, and can only confuse the New Zealand student. My own experience in botanical
uomenclatm-e has convinced me that the practice of adopting local names for species of plants is highly unadvisable;
it has introduced confusion into the botany of every country, aud served no good purpose.
N a t . O rd . LXXVII. URTICEiE, Juss.
Gen. I. TROPHIS, P.
Florea dioici. F l. amentacei, bracteati. Perianthium 4-plijllum. Siamina 4. F l. ? axiUares,
solitarii. Perianthium maris. Ovarmm ovatum, stylo brevi, stigmatibus 2. Drupa ovata. Cotgledones
coiitortuplicatæ.
The "Milk-tree” of tbe Nelson and Wellington colonists is described by Mr. BidwUl and Dr. Sinclair as producing
a milk which is used with tea. and is equaUy suitable for the purpose with that of the cow ; it is also drunk
as it flows from the tree, and is good and sweet, bnt has a vegetable after-taste.—A large tree, 60 feet high, very
vanable in habit, form, and foUage, often extremely Uke Carpodetus serratus. Branches brittle, covered with dark
brown bark. Leaves alternate, petioled, i - 2 inches long, dark green, obovate-oblong, serrate, veined. Male flowers
in slender catkins, which are axiUary and soUtary or panicled, often becoming diseased, and forming masses of
pendulous, flowerless, bracteate peduncles. Perianth minute, seated in a small bract, four-leaved. Stamens four.
Femak Jlowers soUtaiy or few together, in very short spikes, each bracteate. Ovary ovoid. Fruit a small red berry,
terminated ivitb the two stigmata. The species of this genus are iU-defined and chiefly tropical; some have beeii
referred to Epicarpurus of Blumc, in which M. Eaoul places this, but that genus is described as having the female
perianth swoUeu and fleshy, and the male with two bracteolæ. (Name from rpitjuc, to nourish.)
1. Trophis ? opaca. Banks et Sol. ; inermis, ramulis ultimis amentisque puberulis, foliis obovatis
elliptico.oblongisve serratis. B a n h et Sol. MSS. et Ic. Epicarpurus microphyllus, Raoul, Choix de
Plantes, p . 14. (. 9.
Hab. Northern and Middle Islands, B a n h and Solander, etc. Nat. name, “ Towai,” Raoul.
Gen. II. URTICA, L.
Flores unisexuales, glomerati v. remoti, spicis racemisve dispositi. F l. $ . Perianthium 4-5-partitum.
Stamina 4-5. F l. Î . 4-phyllum ; foliolis exterioribus minoribus v. 0. O m n '« liberum.
Stigma sessile v. elongatam. Achenium oblongum, perianthio inclusum. Cotgledones ovatæ.
The New Zealand Nettles are similar in general appearance to the English, but (piite different specifically. As
a genus Urtka is known by its small unisexual flowers, collected into Uttle heads, or solitary, scattered along
axillary spikes or panicles. Malejl. Perianth four- or five-parted. Stamens four or five. Female fl. Perianth of
four leaflets, which enclose the ripe achenium; the latter consists of a compressed nut, with a thread-shaped long style,
or short, sessUe, feathery stigma. Cotyledons ovate, plano-convex.—This genus is found in most parts of the world.
Some of the species do not sting ; those that do so, effect it by the breaking off the ends of the stings, which contain
an irritating fluid, which is consequently applied to the wound they make in penetrating the skin, producing
inflammation. (Name from ni'o, to hum.)
1. Urtica ferox, Forst. ; monoica, caule erecto fruticoso tereti ramoso, ramis incanis herbaceis petiolis
costisque setis (longe stipitatis) rigidis patentibus dense obsitis, foliis oppositis longe petiolatis ovatis v.
linearibus integris v. basi utrinque lobatis acuminatis basi rotundatis v. cordatis profunde et irregulariter
acute sinuato-dentatis membranaceis superne glaberrimis v. sparse setosis subtus glaberrimis v. puberulis,
glomerulis masculis spicatis foemineis subracemosis, racemis spicisve petiolo subæquilongis, fioribus acheniis-
que parvis, stigmatibus sessilibus plumosis. Forst. Prodr. A. Rick. Flora. A. Cunn. Prodr. U. hastata,
Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic.
Hab. Northern and Middle Islands. From the east coast, Banks and Solander, to the southern extremity,
Lyall. Nat. name, “ Onga Onga,” Col.
The woody branching stem, 6-8 feet high, and long stipitate stings, at once distinguish this Nettle. The woody
branches are as thick as a crow- or goose-quill, smooth, or, as well as the leaves imdemeath, pubescent. Petioles
l - l g inches long. Leaves 3-6 inches, very variable in breadth, entire or lobed at the base. Flowers rather larger
thau in the English U. urens, similar to them.—Mr. Colenso describes this as stinging violently, the pain lasting for
four days.
2. Urtica australis. Hook. fil. ; berbacea, caule robusto crasso subsimplici erecto nudo v. setoso,
foliis oppositis ternisque stipulatis longe petiolatis late rotundato-cordatis grosse crenato-dentatis supra
glaberrimis snbtus pubescentibus v. glabratis, stipulis ovato-lanceolatis integris v. bifidis, spicis simplicibus
V . paniculatis petiolo longioribus, stigmate sessili plumoso. Fl. Antarct. p . 6 8 .
Hab. Northern Island. WeUington, Bidwill.
A tall succulent herb, found also in Lord Auckland’s Group. Stem smooth, glabrous, or setose, especially at
the bases of the leaves, 2-4 feet high. Leaves stipulate, 4 inches broad, on petioles 2-4 inches long, opposite or
ternate, broadly cordate, deeply toothed. Spikes branched or subpaniculate, glabrous or more or less covered with
stings.
3. Urtica lucífuga, Hook. fil. ; herbácea, monoica, tota glaberrima v. setis longis sparsis instructa,
caule erecto parce ramoso, foliis oppositis longe et gracile petiolatis late deltoideo-cordatis grosse dentatis
membranaceis, spicis simplicibus v. divisis, iloribus confertis, achenio laciniis 2 interioribus majoribus
perianthii incluso rarius tubo perianthii elongato immerso, stigmate sessili. Lond. Journ. Bot. v. 6. p . 285.
Var. /3. linearifolia; foliis anguste bnearibus lineari-oblongisve, floribus glomeratis axillaribus vix
spicatis.
Hab. Northern Island. In various places, Colenso, Sinclair, etc.
A tall slender species, sparingly branclied, quite glabrous, or with a few scattered long stings, chiefly on the
petioles. Stems 2 feet higb, weak. Leaves very variable in size, -g—S inches long, membranous, deeply toothed,
broatUy cordate, acummate ; petioles 1-3 inches long. Flowers clustered in numerous spikes, which are shorter
thau the petioles. Achenia enclosed in the two outer larger leaflets of the perianth ; sometimes the perianth of the
fruit is tubular, however, and encloses the achenia.—Also found iu Tasmania, where the leaves are often narrow
and hnear. The var. /3 may be a different species, but rather appears a starved weak state ; its leaves are verv’
narrow, linear-oblong or linear-elongate, 1-3 inches long, aud the spikes reduced to little more than axillary
glomeruli.
Geu. I I I . AUSTRALINA, Gaud.
Flores monoici. F l. $ ad apicem pedunculi solitarii elongati axiUares, solitarii v. bini. Periantlmm
(v. involuccllura) cochleare. Stamen F l. ? solitarii v. 2-3, subsessiles, axiUares. Periantkiuml.
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