16 FLORA OF NEAY ZEALAND.
capsule bm-sting elastically aud dischai-ging the seed. The New Zealand species have been referred to the genus
Er-petion, DC., which only differs in the lower petal having a very short spur. The genus is found sparingly in
Australia, Tasmania, and Fuegia; abundantly in the North temperate zone, and in moimtainous countries generally,
especially of South America. The species, wherever they occur, are very difficult to distinguish from one another.
(Name lov in Greek, whence Viola in Latin.)
1. Yioh. filicaulis, Hook, fil.; glaberrima, tenella, repens, stolonifera, stipiibs subiilato-lanceolatis
fimbriato-laceris, petiolis gracilibus, foliis late ovatis profunde cordatis obtusis crenatis, pedunculis 1 -floris
supra medium bibracteolatis, sepalis lauceolatis accuminatis apice subserratis, petalis spathulatis inferiore
basi gibboso.
H a b . Northern and Middle Islands. Mount Egmont, Eieffenbachj Eastern Mountains, Colenso; and
Otago, Lyall.
A slender smooth plant, sending out long rooting runners. Stipules deeply cut and fimbriate, the segments
with glandular apices. Petioles aud leaves verj’ variable in length and size, the foimer one-half to two inches long, the
latter half an inch long, broadly cordate, blunt, crenate, membranous. Peduncles much longer than the leaves.
Flowers white or pale blue, one-fom-th to nearly two-tbivds of an inch across. Yerj' distmct from any New Zealand
and Austraban plant; it may be recognized at once by its creeping habit and fimbriated stipules. It is very nearly
allied to a Ceylon and Peninsular Indian species.
2. Yiola Cunninghamii, Hook, fil.; glaberrima, acauHs v. caulescens, statmu variabilis, foliis omnibus
radicabbus v. e cauRbus brevibus elongatisve prostratis, stipubs lineari-oblongis acutis integerrimis, petiobs
elongatis, foliis late ovatis oblongisve rarius spathulatis basi in petiolum angustatis v. profunde cordatis
obtusis obscure crenatis, pedunculis fobo ®quilongis longioribusve supra medium bibracteolatis, floribus
ut in V.Jilicaule sed minoribus. Erpetion spatbulatum, A. Cunn. Prodr. non G. Don, nec Viola Sieberiana,
Spreng.
Var. a. muUiceps; caulibus e radice plurimis brevibus, petiolis elongatis 2-8 uncialibus, foliis late
triangulari-ovatis basi subcordatis in petiolum angustatis.
Var. /3. radicata; radice valido multicipite, caulibus brevissimis, petiobs 4-2 unc. lougis, fobis ovato-
spatbulatis v. subtrapeziformibus interdum minimis.
Var. 7 . gracilis; caubbus paucis elongatis, petiobs 2-8 unc. lougis gracilibus, fobis membranaceis
late ovatis profunde cordatis v. basi truncatis ad apicem petiob dilatatis.
Hab. Northern and Middle Islands; on tbe plains and mountains; very common, A. Ctmning-
ham, etc.
Q,uite as variable <a plant as tbe Dog Violet, Viola canina (which it a good deal resembles), is iu Europe, in
a diy soil, or in exposed places, the root becomes thick and woody; the stems are then very short and numerous,
with many rather coriaceous leaves. In shaded and more favoured places, and amongst long grass, etc., the root
is often weaker and the stems longer, with very long petioles, and broad membranous leaves. It is best recognized
bv its never creeping or throwing out stolones or suckers, and by its entire stipules; for in stature (from 1-10
inches high), texture, size, aud form of leaf, and size of flowers, it varies extremely. It differs from V. Sieberiana of
New HoUand in its wanting stolones; but tbe var. radicata very closely resembles another Tasmanian species.
Leaves on long petioles, broadly ovate or oblong, narrowed into the petiole, or cordate at the base, blunt,
obtusely crenate. Peduncles as long or longer than the leaf, with two bracteoles above the middle. Flowers as in
r.;
Gen. I I . HYMENikNTHERA, Banks.
Flores regulares. Sépala 5, imbricata. Petala 5, patenti-recurva, oblique imbricata.
subsessilia, in tubum coalita, connectivo in cristam producto dorso appendiculato. Ovarium 1-loculare,
stylo brevi bifido ramis intus stigmatiferis; ovulis 2 parietalibus. Bacca 1-locularis, 2- rarius l-sperma.
Semina parietibus oppositis affixa, superposita, superius liorizontale, inferius pendulum; testa Crustacea;
albumiue copioso; embryone cylindraceo, radícula hilo próxima.
Shrubs, of which one species is a native of New Zealand, another of Tasmania, a third of New HoUand, and a
fourth of Norfolk Island. Flowers regular, small, on short peduncles, axillary or from the branches. Anthers
sessUe, with a claw at the back. Fruit a small two-seeded beiTy. (Name from vpgv, a membrane, from the
appendage at the back of the anther,)
1. Hymenanthera crassifolia, Hook, fil.; ramulis crassis puberulis, foliis 3 lin. 2 unc. longis lineari-
spatbulatis v. rbombeo-ovatis obtusis integerrimis sinuato-dentatisve crassis coriaceis, petaHs sepalisque
eroso-dentatis. Scmvola Nov®-Zelandi®, A . Cunn. Prodr. T a b . VII.
Ha b . Northern Island, east coast; on maritime rocks opposite tbe Cavallos Islands, II. Cunningham.
Cape Palliser, Colenso. Middle Island, Nelson, Bidwill.
A rigid woody shrub, often prostrate, sometimes erect and 2-4 feet high, much branched, the branchlets
pubescent; bark white. Leaves thick and leathery, so variable in form and size as often to be scarcely recognizable,
generaUy linear-spathulate, 1 inch long, blunt, veined when diy, in young shoots much larger, broader, sinuate
or toothed. Stipules veiy minute, ovate. Flowers very small, solitary or two or three together, from the axils of the
leaves, ou short, thick, curved peduncles, which have a sheathing bract. Sepals five, fleshy, rounded, erose. Petals
linear-oblong, recurved. Stamens five, united by tbe broad connectiva into a tube, sessile; each anther terminated
by a fimbriated claw, and furnished at the back with an erect blunt linear appendage. Berries 2-3 bnes long,
oblong, seated on tbe persistent withered coroUa, terminated by tbe bifid style, blue-purple, one-celled, two-seeded;
seeds bard.—Very nearly aUied to the Tasmanian H. angustifolia, Br., in which I also find a one-ceUed, two-seeded
berry; but the leaves are thicker in texture, and not so narrov/. The strophiolus at the chalaza is more evident in
tbe Tasmanian plant.—P l a t e VII. A and B, specimens in flower and fruit of the ordinary form; C, young shoot:—
natural size. Fig. 1, leaf and stipules; 2 and 3, flowers; 4, petal; 5, stamens; 6, the same laid open and seen in
front; 7, ovarium; 8, longitudinal section of the same; 9, ovule, cut longitudinally; 10, ripebeiTy; 11, tbe same
cut longitudinally ; 12, seed :—all magnified.
Gen. I I I . MBLICYTUS, Worst.
Dioicus V. polygamus. Flores regulares. Sépala 5, persistentia, oblonga, obtusa, imbricata. Petala ò,
lineari-oblonga, patenti-recurva. Fl. d - Stamina sessiiia, connectivo apice obtuso v. in appendicem
subulatam v. dilatatam producto, basi dorso ligula v. gianduia erecta instructo, antheris 2-locuiaribns.
Ovarii rudimentum conicum. Fl. ? . Stamina squamul® dorso appendiculat®. Ovarmm ovatum, stylo
erecto 3-5-fido v. stigmatibus 3-5 sessilibus coronatum, 1-loculare, ovulis paucis v. plurimis placentis
3-4 parietalibus solitariis v. biseriatim affixis. Bacca globosa. Semina pauca v. plurima, dense congesta,
ungulata; testa Crustacea v. coriacea; albumine copioso ; cotyledonibus dilatatis, plano-convexis ; radicula
hilo próxima, cybndracea.
Large, smooth, dicecious, woody shrubs, or small trees, only known to inhabit New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
This genus has hitherto been placed in Flacourtianem ; but certainly belongs to Violariex, and is closely allied to
Hymenanthera. Leaves large, petiolate, smooth, sei-rate. Flowers smaU, in little bundles on the branches ; each on
a slender peduncle, which bears one or more often connate bracts. Calyx of five blunt pieces, united at tbe base.