36
not unusual) that no further obliquity or gibbosity of the germen should ensue. The column becoming so evident at
a later period is also natural, it being well supplied with vascular tissue for the nourishment of the large seed.—
Myzodendron presents a modification of this structure: the column there bears three ovxiles, two of which are
absorbed, but at a later period than in Pennantia; and the column afterwards becomes a flat cord lying against the
wall of the cavity of the seed-vessel, Avith one pendulous seed, and the tAvo undeveloped oviües appearing as swellings
near the point of suspension. In the absence, then, of specimens enabling me to trace the development of the ovarium
and fruit of Pennantia, I propose, as the probable explanation of its anomalous structure, that the ovarium is normally
three-celled, the cells being confluent above; that a short erect central column is placed at the confluence of the cells;
and that three ovules hang from it, one into each cell. At a very early period two of the cells and their corresponding
ovules are absorbed, the germen becomes gibbous, the inner wall of the remaining cell gradually hardens, and
the vessels of the column thicken at the same time, Avith the growth of the seed they nourish. Tbe result is a hard
nut, with a flat cord running up one face, passing through an orifice at the upper extremity of the latter. The deep
sulcus in the front of the ovule, fig. 7 and 8 , is probably due to contraction during diying.—P l a t e XII. A, female,
and B, male branch:—natural size. Pig. 1, male flower; 2, pollen; 3, female floAver; 4, ovary; 5, 6, vertical
sections of the same, shoAving the undeveloped ovules at a; 7 , ovule; 8 , transverse section of the same; 9 , 10,11,
ripe fruit; 12, transverse, and 13, longitudinal section of berry; 14, nut and its column (c); 15, front view of
the same; 16, embryo :— all hut Jig. 9 magnified.
N at. Ord . XIV. HYPERICINEiE, BC.
Gen. I. HYPERICUM, L.
Sépala 5, imbricata. Petala 5, contorta. Stamina 00, in phalanges coUecta v. libera, filamentis
filiformibus. Ovarizm 1-S-loculare; stigmatibus 3. Capsula membranácea, 1-locularis, 3-valvis, valva-
rum marginibus inflexis; seminibus marginalibus plurimis.
Erect or procumbent herbs and small shrubs, with the leaves, and sometimes petals and sepals, covered with
glandular dots. Being the only New Zealand genus of the Order, it may be recognized by the characters of that
Order itself, which are very strongly marked. The species have a very wide range: both of them are natives of
either hemisphere, and of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America; but being exceedingly variable, their precise distribution
is not Avell ascertained. (Name, the {nn)piKov of Pioscorides)
1. gramineum, Porst.; caule simplici v. e basi diAuso et superne dichotomo erecto v. suberecto
tetrágono, foliis oblongis obtusis sessibbus subcordatis punctatis marginibus plerumque revolutis,
sepalis oblongis obtusis v. ovatis acuminatis punctatis integerrimis, petalis calyce longioribus, staminibus
fere bberis, capsula cónica. Forst. Prodr. Lah. Austro-Caled. p . 53. t. 53. H. involutum, Lab. et Auct.
H. aureum. Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic. II. Japonicum, Auct. in part. Brathys Billardieri, Spach.
H ab. Northern and Middle Islands; not uncommon. East coast. Banks and Solander, Colenso.
Akaroa, Raoul.
An erect herb, a span or so long. Stems slender, with four rather membranous angles, simple or dichoto-
mously branched, very much so in the New Caledonian specimens figured by Labillardiere, and in some Tasmanian
ones; but not at all so in Forster’s original specimens, and sparingly so in my New Zealand ones. Leaves f-1 inch
long, suberect, oblong, sessile, blunt, base cordate, covered with black dots, flat or with the margin revolute. Flowers
on short or long peduncles, \ \ inch across, variable in size, as are the golden-yellow petals, whicli often curl inwards
as they Avither. Sepals oblong, blunt or sharp. Stamens numerous, hardly united at the base into bundles.
Capsule conical, three-valved, Avith three styles, membranous.—This very variable plant is common in Australia and
Tasmania; it closely resembles H. linearifolium, DC., of Europe {H. linariifolium, Vahl), and is probably the
H. pedicellare, Endl., of Swan River, and B. Lalandii, Choisy, of the Cape of Good Hope. From Mexico and Peru
there is a very similar plant in Hooker’s .Herbarium. Though so different in appearance from the following, it is
not easy to distinguish small states of the one from large of the other; and judging from the extremely variable
character of E . Japonicum in India, I am strongly incbned to consider these two Ncav Zealand plants as states of
one very common species.
2. Japonicum, Thunb.; caule bumifuso v. basi prostrate ascendente ramoso v. simplici
tetragono, foliis sessibbus late oblongis obovatisve obtusis punctatis planis marginibusve revolutis, sepalis
oblongis obovatisve obtusis acutisve punctatis integerrimis, petalis calyce vix longioribus, staminibus
bberis, capsula globosa v. oblonga acuta calyce vix longiore.
Var. /3. humifusum : caubbus humifusis basi ramosissimis superne simpbcibus v. divisis. H. pusillum,
Choisy in BC. Prodr. v. l . p . 549. A. Cunn. Prodr. Ascyrum humifusum, Lah. Fl. Nov. Holl. v. 2.
p. 33. t. 175.
H ab. Northern Island; not uncommon. Bay of Islands, A. Cunningham, Colenso, etc. Auckland,
Sinclair. Var. (3, in moist places.
The ordinary state of this plant, and the var. ¡3 especially, may be known by its more procumbent slender
habit, branching stem, broader flatter leaves and sepals, and shorter, more rounded capsules. Sometimes, in var. 0,
the leaves and flowers are very small, 1-2 lines long, and the plant Avholly procumbent; at others it ascends, becomes
larger, the leaves narrower, aud capsules longer, passing into H. gramineum. These are points to Avhich the
attention of the resident must be draAvn, Avho should not be deceived by appearances due to the place of growth,
but collect copiously, aud cultivate the varieties under different circumstances of exposiue, humicbty, etc. The
extreme states of these plants (H. gramineum and Japonicum) are very different, and intermediate ones are not
so usual in New Zealand as in India, Avhere they are aU very common. Tliis is also a Mauritius and Madagascar
plant. Wight and Arnott (Prodi’. Fl. Penins. Ind. Or.) have indicated the close affinity between H. Japonicum
and the European H. humifusmn. There is a perfectly similar plant in Herb. Hook, from San Francisco, in
California, and from Fort Vancouver (Novth-Avest America), labelled H. anagalloides, Cham, et Schlecht.; and
another from Valdivia, in South Chili, called H. CItilense, Gay, Flor. Chil. (badly described). I am far from insisting
on these ab belonging to one species, which can only be determined by laborious investigation; but I think it
probable, tbe more especially as many of these are described Avithout reference to any general herbarium, and
often from very imperfect specimens.
N at. Or d . XV. SAPINDACEÆ, Juss.
Gen. I. ALECTRYON, Gærtn.
^ Calyx 4-5-lobus v. partitus. Petala 0. Stamina 5 -8 , liypogyna, æqualia, erecta; antheris filamentis
æquilongis, 2-locularibus. Ooarium 1, uniloculare (3-loculare, Gunn.), couipressum, uni-bi-ovulatum, dorso
productum ; stylo brevi, laterali, curvato ; stigmate simplici, acuto (3-fido, Cunn.). Capsula (bacca, A. Cunn.)
ciustacea, pubescens, oblique obovata, turgida, dorso in gibbum producta, 1 -locularis, 1 -spcrma; seniine
arillato ; testa nitida, Crustacea ; cotyledonibus crassis.
The only New Zealand species forms a lofty tree, branching above. Young branches, leaves below, and
especially the inflorescence, covered with a velvety rusty-coloured down. Leaves pinnate, 4-10 inches long ; leaflets
alternate, petiolate, 2-3 inches long, obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, obscurely crenate, the young ones deeply
mciso-serrate. Floivers small, in terminal panicles, 6-8 inches long, much branched ; branches stout, spreading.
Calyx hairy, of four to live small lobes. Petak 0. Stamens usually eight, with large deep-red anthers and short
filaments. Ovary solitaiy, hairy, sunk amongst the copious hairs at the base of the calyx, compressed, with a short,
flat, erect projection at the hack. Capsule i inch long, turgid, hard and dry, pubescent, obliquely obovate and gib