-Panax.| ARALIACE. 231 
6. P. Colensoi, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 94, t. 21.—A glabrous 
shrub or small tree, 5-15ft. high; branches stout, spreading. 
Leaves 3-5-foliolate ; petioles 2-9in. long, with a stout 2-lobed 
sheathing base; leaflets 2-6in., obovate- or oblong-lanceolate, 
acute or obtuse, sessile or shortly petioled, coarsely serrate, thick 
and coriaceous, smooth and glossy, veins usually indistinct. Flowers 
dicecious. Umbels large, compound, terminal, similar to those of 
P. arboreum but smaller and with fewer primary rays ; secondary 
rays 4-1 in. long, pedicels short. Ovary 2-celled; styles 2, slightly 
connate at the base, tips spreading, recurved. Fruit orbicular, Lin. 
diam., much compressed, 2-celled, purplish-black.—Handb. N.Z. 
Fl. 102; Kirk, Students’ Fl. 218. 
NortH anp SoutH IsLAnDs, Stewart Istanp: In hilly or mountainous 
districts from the Little Barrier Island and Cape Colville southwards. Usually 
from 1500-4500 ft., but descending to sea-level on Stewart Island. December- 
February. 
Very closely allied to P. arborewm, but the leaves are 3-5-foliolate (not 
5—T-foliolate), the leaflets are sessile or nearly so, and the veins are usually in- 
distinct. 
7. P. arboreum, Forst. Prodr. n. 398.—A small much-branched 
round-headed tree 12-25 ft. high ; branches stout, brittle. Leaves 
digitately 5—7-foliolate ; petioles stout, 2-10 in. long, with a broad 
2-lobed sheath at the base; leaflets 3-7 in., on petioles 4—-1in. long, 
broad- or narrow-oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse or acute, serrate 
or sinuate-serrate, coriaceous, smooth and shining, veins distinct. 
Umbels large, terminal, compound, dicecious; primary rays 8-12, 
radiating, 2-4 in. long; secondary 10-20, 4-14 in. long, each bear- 
ing a 10-15-flowered umbel; pedicels short, slender. Flowers 
tin. diam. Ovary 2-celled; styles 2, connate at the base, tips 
free, recurved. Fruit broader than long, compressed, +—} in. diam., 
purplish-black, 2-celled; seeds 1 in each cell.—A. Rich. Fl. Nowv. 
Zel. 281; A Cunn. Precur. n. 510; Raoul, Choiz, 46; Hook. in 
Lond. Journ. Bot. ii. (1848) 421, t. 11; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 94; 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. 102; Kirk, Students’ Fl. 219. 
Var. leetum, Kirk, |.c.—Leaflets much larger, 7-10in. long, 3-4in. broad, 
ah ovate-lanceolate or obovate, abruptly acuminate, coarsely serrate or 
aentate, 
Kermapec Istanps, NortH anp SoutH Istanps.—Abundant in lowland 
districts throughout. Var. letwm; Thames Goldfields, Kirk! T. F.C. Sea- 
level to 1500 ft. Whauwhau-paku. June-July. 
4, MERYTA, Forst. 
Small glabrous trees, usually more or Jess resinous. Leaves 
large, alternate, simple, coriaceous. Flowers dicecious, in terminal 
panicles. Male flowers: Calyx-limb obsolete or minutely 3-é- 
toothed. Petals 4-5, valvate. Stamens 4-5; filaments rather 
long; anthers ovate-oblong. Females: Calyx-limb obsolete. 
Petals 4-5, small. Ovary 4- to many-celled; styles thick, distinct 
