Loranthus.| LORANTHACES). 619 
2. L. tetrapetalus, Forst. Prodr. n. 156.—A bushy shrub 
3-6 ft. high; stems usually numerous from the base, often ad- 
hering to the host for a considerable distance ; branches spreading, 
terete, greyish; branchlets compressed, glabrous or minutely pu- 
bescent. Leaves opposite and decussate, $-14in. long, elliptic- 
oblong or ovate-oblong, rounded at the tip, narrowed into a short 
petiole at the base, very thick and coriaceous, pale yellowish- 
green when fresh, reddish when dry, midrib and veins obscure. 
Flowers bright-red, either solitary or 2-4 together in the axils 
of the leaves, erect; peduncles short, stout. Calyx-limb cupular, 
obscurely 4-toothed. Corolla about 1 in. long, swollen and 4-angled 
at the base, terete above, ultimately splitting to the base into 
4 linear petals, which are erect below, but reflexed at the tip. 
Anthers narrow-linear, basifixed. Style equalling the corolla; 
stigma capitate.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 268; A. Cunn. Precur. 
n. 486; Raoul, Chow, 42; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 99; Handb. 
N.Z. Fl. 107. i. decussatus, 7. Kirk in Trans: N.Z. Inst. iii. 
(1871) 162. lL. punctatus, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 323. 
NortH anpD SoutH Istanps: Not uncommon from the Little Barrier 
Island and Cape Colville to the south-west of Otago. 500-4000 ft. Novem- 
ber-January. 
In the southern portion of the colony this is usually parasitic on Fagus, 
in the north on Quintinia. Through a curious misconception, Mr. Kirk applied 
the name of tetrapetalus to the plant now known as LZ. Adamsii, and described 
the true tetrapetalus as a distinct species under the name of L. decussatus. 
3. L. Colensoi, Hook. f. in Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 633.—A large 
much-branched perfectly glabrous bush; branchlets terete. Leaves 
opposite, 14~-3in. long, broadly oblong or obovate or almost orbi- 
cular, obtuse, narrowed into a stout petiole 4-2in. long, very thick 
and coriaceous, veinless or the veins very obscure. Peduncles 
stout, axillary, $-lin. long, 3-9-flowered. Flowers sessile, op- 
posite, large, scarlet, 14-2in. long; a small deciduous leaf-like 
bract at the base of each flower; bracteoles wanting. Calyx-limb 
prominent, cupular, truncate or obscurely sinuate. Corolla terete 
or nearly so in bud, swollen at the base and towards the tip, splitting 
into 4 linear petals free to the base. Anthers very narrow-linear, 
basifixed. Style straight, equalling the corolla.—Raoul, Choir, 42 ; 
Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 99; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 107. 
Nort Istanp: Lake Waikaremoana, parasitic on Metrosideros tomentosa, 
Colenso! Mount Hikurangi and other places in the East Cape district, Adams 
and Petrie, Bishop Williams! various localities in Wellington Province, 
Buchanan ! SoutH Isnuanp: Not uncommon in wooded districts throughout. 
Sea-level to 2000 ft. December—January. 
A very handsome species. It is usually parasitic on Fagus, but has also 
been noticed on Pittosporwm and Metrosideros. 
