THE TETRACHONDRACEAE TO THE ARALIAD FAMILY. 167 
The Tetrachondraceae is a very small family, containing only one 
New Zealand species, Tetrachondra Hamiltoni, and another species 
closely related to the above and found only in subantarctic South 
America. 
The convolvulus family (Convolvulaceae) contains the beautiful 
climbing-convolvulus (Calystegia tuguriorum) and the lovely purple 
Ipomaea palmata of the shores of northern Auckland. 
A little lower down the scale come the gentians (Gentianaceae). 
Owing to the bitter principle in their vegetative parts, these plants 
are not relished by stock. Possibly the root could be used as a 
tonic, like that of the Kuropean Gentiana lutea. Gentiana contains 24 
New Zealand species. G. corymbifera, in full bloom, is one of the 
most striking plants of the flora. Other genera are Liparophyllum, 
with only one species, which is also Tasmanian, and Sebaea, which has 
but one species in New Zealand (S. ovata), which is also Australian. 
There is only one member of the primrose family (Primulaceae), 
Samolus repens, with 2 varieties, one of which is a prostrate, white- 
flowered plant forming broad patches in salt-meadows, but the other 
is of erect habit. 
The heath family (Hricaceae) is represented only by the snow- 
berries (Gaultheria and Pernettya). The sole species of the latter in 
New Zealand (P. nana) is a small wiry shrub forming mats on 
the ground and bearing rather large (for so small a plant) white 
flowers. 
The Australian heath family (Hpacridaceae) is of physiognomic 
importance, as it contains the large genus Dracophyllum with its 
27 species. Other genera are Cyathodes (fig. 94), Lewcopogon, and 
Pentachondra. 
The carrot family (Umbelliferae) contains some of the most 
remarkable genera of the flora—e.g., the spear-grasses and spaniards 
(Aciphylla) (figs. 56, 78) ; the endemic genera Anisotome and Covzella ; 
Angelica, with several species, of which 2 are climbers—a remarkable 
occurrence in this family; the small rush-like Crantzia; and the 
remarkable Actinotus. 
The araliad family (Araliaceae) contains the genera Nothopanaa, 
Pseudopanaz, the endemic Stilbocarpa (2 species), and the beautiful 
tree Meryta Sinclairvi of the Three Kings Islands, with its immense 
shining leaves crowded at the ends of the branches, their blades 
18 inches long or more. 
