IK '
f
56
of the leaf of a Qmm, its hairiness, and the siae of its flower, and, faiUng all these, on difference of locality, there is then
no limit to sueh species ; for as much variety may be fonnd between Englisb specimens of G. urUmm as amongst
the above-mentioned species. As coEectors and herbaria increase, and plants, supposed to have very limited or
isolated areas assigned to them, are fonnd to spread all over the world, we must modify onr views of the eharactes
thev offer when these are variable. This is eminently the case with Gmm ; and I think that any one, having bad
as many specimens and species at once under the eye as I have, woidd regard the present as a plant common to most
temperate parts of the world : in Asia, from Siberia to the Hbnalaya Mountains; throughout Europe; in Australasia,
in Tasmania and New Zealand; in North America, from the Arctic Sea to Georgia; thence extending along the
Andes to Pei-u and Cldli, and so down to Fuegia. In the -Antarctic Flora,’ I assumed this speeies and the following
to be both difi'erent from Fuegian plants; but more specimens have placed both in another light. Dr. Lyall s
Milford Sound plant is not in flower, but in young ftiiit, and entirely resembles G. urhanum.
2. G e u m C o m m e r s o n ; parvulum, dense villosiim et velutino-pubescens, foliis radicalibus
interrupte pinnatisectis lobo terminali rotundato lobato crenato lateralibus 2-8-jugis parvulis v. 0, caule v.
pedúnculo Moso, floribus foüolis parvis involucratis, petalis calyce subduplo longioribus, stylo apice
uncinato, carpelUs villosis. Commerson. BC. Prodr. Fl. Antaret. v. 2. f . 263. G. involucratum, P m .
VC. etc. An Sieversia albiflora, Fl. Antaret. v. l . p . 1. t. 1 ?
H a b . Northern Island. Euahine Mountains, Colenso.
A small plant, 4-8 inches high, with a stout woody root, everywhere densely covered with shaggy yellowish
hairs It is extremely like a small alpine state of 0. Mageilanicum, and may prove to be so; but it is here kept
distinct, on account of its size, villousness, the great terminal lobe of the leaf, and very minute lateral ones. The
flowers appear to be white, from Mr. Colenso’s considering it closely resembling those of Smersia albiflora,
between which plant and this New Zealand one I see no difference, except that the old receptacle of the latter
is vfllons, and of the Sieversia (perhaps from my specimens being too old) quite naked.
N a t . O r d . XXV. O N A G R A R I r iE , Ju s s .
Gen. I. FUCHSIA, .
Calycis tubus basi ovario adhærens, superne in tubum deciduum apice 4-lobum producto. Petala 4,
tubo calycis inserta, v. 0. Stamina %. Ooarium disco urceolato coronatum, 4-loculare; stylo gracili;
stigmate clavato; loculis 00-ovulatis. Bacca ovoidea, carnosa, 4-looularis, 00-sperma.
This fine genus abounds in tbe tropical mountains and temperate regions of South America, from Mexico to
the Straits of Magellan ; but has hitherto been fonnd in no other country except New Zealand, which is one of the
most remarkable features in the distribution of the genus on the one hand, and of tlie New Zealand flora on tlie
other -O n e kind forms a large bush or tree, and the other a small prostrate plant. Both are perfectly smooth, with
alternate petioles, leaves, and axülary pendulous flowers. Tube of the calyx united to the ovary, and produced
beyond it into a campanulate four-lobed limb, which drops off from the ovary. Petals small and convolute, or none.
Stamens eight, with long filamenta. Style one, club-shaped at the extremity. Berry ovoid, four-celled, raany-sccded.
(Named in honom- of Leonard Fuchs, a learned German physician.)
1. Fuchsia exoortkata, Liim. fil.; fruticosa v. arborea, foliis ovato- v. oblongo-lanoeolatis Imeari-
lanceolatisve acuminatis remote et obscure dentatis subtus albidis, petalis parvis, lm n . fd . Suppl. Lindley
in Bot. Beg. v. 1. t. 857. A. Cunn. Prodr. Skinnera, Forst. Prodr. A. Rich. Flora. Agapaiitlius calyciflorus,
Banks et Sol. MSS.
H a b . Moist woods throughout the Islands; abundant, Forster, etc. Dusky Bay, Menzies. Nat.
name, “ Kotuku-tuku,” Cunn.; of the berry " Kotiini,” ly a ll. (Cultivated in England.)
A tree 16-30 feet high, with a papery deciduous cuticle to tbe bark. Leaves on slender petioles, very variable
in lengtli ; ovate or lanceolate, mucli acuminate, membranous, 2-4 inches long, remotely and obscurely toothed,
quite white and almost sflvery below. Flowers i - 1 inch long, solitaiy, axillary, on slender peduncles, which are
usually shorter than the petioles, of a dingy purple colour. Tube of the calyx inflated and campanulate above
the ovary, with four linear-lanoeolate or ovate acuminate lobes. Petals very small, convolute. Stigma capitate.
The berries | inch long, and blue-purple ; they are sweet and eaten. The stamens vary much in length, being
sometimes quite included.
2. Fuchsia prommhens, R. Cunn. ; caule gracili prooumbeiite ramoso, ramis ascendentibus, foliis longe
petiolatis ovato-cordatis rotundatisve sinuato-dentatis integerrimisve obtusis acutisve, floribus apetalis.
A. Cunn. Prodr. Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 421.
H a b . Northern and Middle Islands; east coast, on the sand of the sea-beach, R. Cunningham,
Colenso. Port Cooper, Lyall. Nat. name, “ Totera," Cunn.
A muck smaller plant than the preceding, with slender woody prostrate stem, and few ascending branches.
Petioles very slender, as long or longer than the leaf, i - 1 inch long. Leaves smaller, rounder and broader than in
the preceding, usually blunt, paler but hardly white beneath. Flowers smaller than in F. excorticata, with a
broader calyx-tube, and no petals.—Mr. Colenso has noticed this species becoming elongated amongst bushes, etc.,
and having stems 6 feet long.
Gen. II . EPILOBIUM, L.
Ch/ym tubus linearis, 4-gouus, ovario adnatus ; limbus 4-sepalus, deciduus. Petala 1. Stamina‘ò.
Ovarmm 4-loculare; stylo elongato; stigmate clavato. Capsula linearis, 4-gona, 4-locularis, 4-valvis,
polysperma ; valvis membranaceis. Semina papposa.
A large genus, universally diffused tliroughout the temperate regions of the globe, whose species are everj’where
extremely variable and difficult to distinguish. It forms a larger proportion of the Elora in New Zealand than in any
other country ; the species abounding at all elevations, and constantly enlarging tlieir range by means of their light
feathery seeds.—Herbs with perennial roots, creeping or upright, smooth or pubescent, divided or simple stems, and
opposite or alternate, sessile or petioled leaves. Flowers axillary and solitary, on long or short pedicels, or spiked, or
panicled. Calyx-tube surrounding a long four-sided ovary; limb of four deciduous sepals. Petals four, rose-
coloured, white, or purple. Stamens eight. Style long, with a davate stigma, entire and oblique in all the New
Zealand species. Capsule very long and slender, splitting into four narrow linear valves, and emitting many feathery
seeds. Peduncles erect in flower, often pendulous in young fruit and again erect, always very variable in length.
I have carefully studied all the southern forms of Fpilohia on several occasions, and must own that I know no good
limits between the majority of the species ; especially of the New Zealanders. Mr. Cunningham’s specimens have all
been studied : they are very insufficient, and often mere tips of branches. I have seen or possess Forster s original
specimens of i?, jnnceum, rotundifolium, and glabdlum, which include many others. I would advise the student not
to attempt naming species without copious suites of specimens, they vary so extremely. Many of the species are
very similar to English ones, but I have not ventured to unite any except E. tetragonum. Small states of E. gla-
hellum and E. tenuipes closely resemble E. alpimm ; E. pubens the E. roseum ; states of E.junceum the E. palustre
and parvijlornm; of E. Billardieri resemble E. montanum, E. origanifolium, E. alsinifolmm (a plant so named in
Herb. Hook.). The general aspect of the New Zealand plants differs in all these cases from what prevails in the
European, but considerable differences are to be expected amongst specimens of widely-diffused plants coming
from dissimilar climates. (Name from €7T(, upon, and Xo/3o?, a pod, from the position of the flower.)
§ a. Stems creeping. Peduncles truly axillary and erect. Leaves opposite.
1. Epilobium nummularifolium, Cunn.; pusillum, caule repente radicante bifariam pubeseente v. gla-
0