162 NEW ZEALAND PLANTS. 



New Zealand genus, and L. oleraceum, Cook's scurvy-grass, the most 

 celebrated plant. 



To Loranthaceae belong the mistletoes. 



The nettle family (Urticaceae) is distinguished by the appropriately 

 named shrubby nettle, Urtica ferox. 



The beeches (Fagaceae) have been noted when dealing with the 

 beech forests in Chapter III. 



To the pepper family (Piperaceae) belong the kawakawa (Macro- 

 piper excelsum) and the succulent herb Peperomia Endlicheri. 



Among the seed-plants which have only one seed-leaf in the seed- 

 ling comes the important family of orchids (Orchidaceae), of which we 

 have between fifty and sixty species, some few of which live upon 

 trees and have aerial roots. 



To the iris family (Iridaceae) belong the pretty and easily culti- 

 vated libertias. 



The lily family contains the palm-lilies (Cordyline, cabbage-tree), 

 and the New Zealand flax, of which there are two species, P. tenax 

 and P. Cookianum, as ahead v noted. 



/ 



The palm family (Palmae) has two representatives the nikau 

 (Rhopalostylis sapida), and one found only on the Kermadec Islands, 

 in the New Zealand region, but extending to Norfolk Island, R. Bauer i 

 by name. 



The rush family (Juncaceae) is an extensive one, consisting of the 

 alpine or subantarctic Rostkovia, the true rushes (Juncus), and the 

 wood-rushes (Luzula). 



The sedge family (Cyperaceae) contains many genera, some of 

 which are frequently mistaken for rushes and others for grasses. 

 Rushes, however, have flowers with small but distinct outer leaves ; 

 grasses have hollow jointed stems and leaves with split sheaths; and 

 sedges, &c., have solid stems, frequently angular, and the leaf-sheaths 

 not split. 



The grasses (Gramineae) are almost the most important natural 

 order, for their economic value cannot be overestimated. Some of 

 the species are of extraordinary size e.g., Arundo conspicua, Dau- 

 thonia Cunninyhfunii, and D. ant<urtiea, this latter belonging to the 

 subantarctic islands. Others are extremely minute, as Agrostis 

 muscosa, which forms small cushions on bare, wet ground in the 

 subalpine and montane regions, and even occurs at sea -level in some 

 places. 



