158 NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



C. grandifolia has very large leaves and reddish-orange drupes, 

 and is common in North Island forests, and extends south as far 

 as Grevmouth and Kaikoura. C. Petriei forms a close turf in the 



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drier South Island mountains, and has large port-wine-coloured 

 drupes, which occasionally are white and translucent. Many co- 

 prosmas are shrubs of a dense habit of growth, with slender inter- 

 lacing branches. 



The ngwort family (Scrophuhrinaceae) contains the very large 

 genus Veronica and other genera of showy plants (Ourisia, Mimulus, 

 Euphrasia, &c.). 



The convolvulus family (Convolvulaceae] contains the beautiful 

 climbing-convolvulus (Calystegia tuguriorum) and the lovely purple 

 Ipomaea palmata of the shores of northern Auckland. 



The borage family (Boraginaceae) comprises the forget-me-nots. 



A little lower down the scale come the gentians (Gentidnaceae) . 

 Owing to the bitter principle in their roots, these plants are not 

 relished by stock. Possibly the root could be used as a tonic, like 

 that of the European Gentiana lutea. 



There is only one plant of the primrose family (Primulaceae) , 

 Samolus re-pens, a prostrate, white-flowered plant forming broad 

 patches in salt meadows. 



The heath family (Ericaceae and Epacridaceae] is important, as it 

 contains many common shrubby plants. Dracophyllum, with needle- 

 like leaves, and GauItJieria, with lily-of-the-valley-like flowers, are the 

 most important genera. 



The carrot family (Umbelliferae) is well represented, and contains 

 one of the most remarkable genera of the flora, Aciphylla. 



The willowherb family (Onagraceae] is represented by the large 

 genus Epilobium. The species are not yet well known, and they are 

 difficult for a beginner to determine. Some are distinctly pretty- 

 e.g., E. pallidiflorum, E. macropus, E. vernicosum. Others become 

 terrible weeds in an alpine garden e.g., E. nummulari folium. E. 

 linnaeoides. The fuchsias belong to this same family. Other related 

 plants, though belonging to a different family, are the myrtles and 

 ratas, both of which include some beautiful species e.g., Myrtus 

 bullata and Metrosideros lucida (Myrtaceae). 



The mallow is a very showy family (Malvaceae], and contains some 

 small trees most valuable for garden purposes, as the lacebarks and 

 ribhonwoods. 



