Tas. 5175. 
ASTELIA CuNNINGHAMII. 
Allan Cunningham's Astelia. 
Nat. Ord. Juncp#.—Die@cia Hexanpria. 
Gen. Ohar. Flores polygami, dioici. Perianthium subglumaceum, campanu- 
latum v.rotatum, 6-partitum. Stamina 6. Ovarium trigonum, 1- v. 3-loculare ; 
ovulis paucis v. plurimis ; stylo brevi v. sub-0 ; stigmate trilobo. Semina plu- 
rima v. pauca ; ¢esfa crustacea, atra, nitida ; embryo brevis.—Herbe sepe magne, 
plerumque sericee, insulis Australasia et maris Pacifici incolentes. 
AsteLIa Cunninghamii ; foliis elongato-subulatis utrinque sericeis, paniculis se- 
riceo-villosis ; masc. effusis, ramis elongatis, perianthii glabrati laciniis subu- 
lato-lanceolatis, antheris late oblongis; fem. panicula subcoarctata, ramis 
brevioribus, ovario globoso 1-loculari, placentis parietalibus, stigmate ses- 
sili 3-lobo, bacca globosa perianthio persistente suffulta, seminibus 6-8 
curvis teretibus atris. 
A, Cunninghamii. J. Hook. Flora of New Zealand, v. 1. p. 259. 
The curious half-hardy plants, of which one sex only is figured 
here, was introduced by Dr. Sinclair, R.N., late Colonial Secre- 
tary of New Zealand, to the Royal Gardens, where it flowered 
last February. Though boasting no brilliancy of flower, this 
forms a beautiful object from the copious long bright silvery hairs 
with which all its parts are clothed. Without the female flowers 
it is almost impossible to name the New Zealand species of this 
nus accurately, but we have little hesitation in referring the | 
present to 4. Cunninghamii, which is common throughout the 
Northern Island, usually forming enormous masses on the 
branches of gigantic forest-trees. 
Descr. A tufted silky perennial, with long, linear-subulate, 
acuminate Jeaves, and large, almost woolly panicles of greenish 
flowers. Perianth, in the male plant, of six equal lobes that are 
subulate, lanceolate, and finally reflexed, silky when young, gla- 
brous when old, bearing on their bases six erect stamens, with 
short filaments and anthers. Ovary trigonous, globose, with a 
short, three-lobed stigma. 
Fig. 1. Male flower. 2. Ovary of ditto :—both magnified. 
APRIL Ist, 1860. 
