Olea. | OLEACEA. 437 
A genus of about 35 species, scattered through the temperate and tropical 
regions of the Old World. The New Zealand species constitute the section 
Gymnelea, characterized by the absence of the corolla, and by the stamens being 
hypogynous. 
* Leaves of young plants broader than those of the adult. 
Leaves of adult trees 1$-3in. x 1-1} in., elliptic-oblong. 
Racemes glabrous hs oF ak .. 1. O. apetala. 
** Leaves of young plants narrower than those of the adult. 
Leaves 3-Gin. x 3-13, lanceolate to ovate - lanceolate. 
Racemes stout, pubescent, 8—18-flowered Fy .. 2. O. Cunninghamit. 
Leaves 2-4in. X 4-#in., lanceolate. Racemes slender, 
glabrous or nearly so, 6-12-flowered .. ie .. 3. O. lanceolata. 
Leaves 14-34in. x }-4in., linear or linear-lanceolate. 
Racemes slender, glabrous, 5—-10-flowered Ne .. 4. O. montana. 
1. O. apetala, Vahl Symb. Bot. iu. 38.—A much-branched 
diceecious shrub or small tree 8-20ft. high, everywhere perfectly 
glabrous ; bark greyish-brown, thick and furrowed ; branches 
spreading, often tortuous. Leaves very variable, in young plants 
larger and broader, 3-5in. long, 2-3in. broad, broadly oblong 
or ovate, subacute; of adult trees 14-3in. long, 1-14in. broad, 
elliptic-oblong or elliptic - ovate, acute or acuminate, shortly 
petiolate, coriaceous, glossy, both surfaces slightly rough to the 
touch, quite entire, midrib prominent. Racemes axillary or on 
the branches below the leaves, glabrous, 1-l4in. long, 10-18- 
flowered; pedicels slender. Flowers minute, ;4,in. diam., females 
alone seen. Calyx-lobes unequal. Petals wanting. Ovary 2- 
celled ; stigma large, 2-lobed ; lobes spreading. Drupe oblong, 
tin. long, red.—Hndl. Prodr. Fl. Ins. Norf. 56; Kirk in Trans. 
N.Z. Inst. ii. 165; Forest Fl. t. 27, 28. 
Norrx Isuanp : Whangarei Heads, Buchanan! T. F. C.; Taranga Islands 
(Hen and Chickens), Great and Little Barrier Islands, Kirk! T. F. C.; Fanal 
Island, Miss Shakespear! Cuvier Island, T. F’. C. 
I have followed Kirk in identifying this with the Norfolk Island plant 
described by Endlicher, but I have had no opportunity of comparing the two. 
2. O. Cunninghamii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 175.—A lofty 
dicecious forest-tree 30-60 or even 70 ft. high, with a trunk 2-5 ft. 
diam. ; young branchlets pubescent. Leaves coriaceous, very vari- 
able ; of young plants long and narrow, 6-10in. long, 4-2in. 
broad, narrow linear, acute; of adult trees 3-6in. long, 2-13 in. 
broad, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or 
subacute, shortly petiolate, glabrous, slightly rough on both sur- 
faces; veins impressed above, somewhat obscure, midrib pro- 
minent beneath. Racemes 4-lin. long, stout, densely pubescent, 
8-18-flowered ; pedicels short, stout; bracts ovate, concave, de- 
ciduous. Flowers minute, apetalous. Calyx unequally 4-lobed. 
Male flowers with 2 large exserted anthers and an abortive ovary ; 
