Pegg. — Ecological Study of New Zealand Sand-dune Plants. 169 



14. Crantzia lineata. . . TT , . 



(a.) Habitat. 



Found in damp places towards north end of New Brighton beach, often 

 carpeting the ground in company with Settiera radicans and Epilobium. 

 Also found elsewhere on rock, in salt meadow, and in shallow water. 



(b.) Growth-form. 



A small plant forming mits of narrow erect green rush-like leaves. 



Rhizome slender, creeping. 



Leaves arising in tufts along the rhizome, narrow, linear, 1-3 in. long, 

 hollow, cylindrical, slightly compressed, apex blunt, leaves appear jointed 

 by reason of dark ring-lik a markings across the leaf at intervals of about 



i i 



-i m. 



sur- 

 tinv 



5 4 



Inflorescence a simple umbel with about four pedicels \-\ in. long, 

 mounted by ovoid or oblong-globose fruit, with ridges and furrows; 

 bracts at base of umbel. 



(c.) Anatomy. Fig. 5. 



Epidermis : Cells irregular, elongated in direction of axis, walls thin, 

 transverse walls often oblique ; stomata prominent, not very frequent 

 clefts usually parallel with 



axis ; no cuticle. 



Chlorenchyma : Large 

 round cells, the outer layer 

 slightly compressed like pali- 

 sade cells, the inner cells cir- 

 cular in transverse section, 

 longer than broad in section 

 parallel to axis ; chlorophyll 

 grains large, round, nume- 

 rous ; air - spaces beneath 

 stomata. 



Fibro - vascular bundles : 

 About three in each leaf, 

 consisting of a mass of 

 phloem towards the outside 



-\7t*\ 



==J*P- 



ti q. 



Op£o£M^ ch,or 



v.b. 



I ph 

 pan. sh 

 protoxyh 

 vessels 



chlor\ 



Fig. 5. — -Crantzia lineata : Part of T.S. of leaf, 

 showing vascular bundle. 



and a very few xylem vessels. Bundle surrounded by a colourless sheath 

 of parenchyma, with a few smaller polygonal cells above the phloem, 

 perhaps for water-storage. 



(d.) Conclusion. 



The so-called " leaves " of Crantzia lineata are probably phyllodes. The 

 rush form and leaf-reduction are xerophytic characters, but anatomy reveals 

 mesophytic characters — e.g. prominent stomata, large rounded chloren- 

 chyma cells with large chlorophyll grains, well-developed spongy tissue, and 

 rudimentary vascular system. 



This plant was grown in the greenhouse, and grew well when kept moist 

 and wh< j n dry. 



15: Calystegia Soldanella. „ „ , . 



(a.) Habitat. 



Common on active dunes, where, owing to its prostrate habit and long 

 rhizomes, it binds together and renders stab'e the mounds of sand on which 



it grows. 



