PLATE 68.—ANGELICA GINGIDIUM. 
Famity UMBELLIFER.] [Genus ANGELICA, Linn. 
Angelica Gingidium, Hook. /. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 97: Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 222. 
Ligusticum Gingidium, Vorst. Prodr. n. 140. 
This well-known plant was one of those discovered during Cook’s first 
voyage, having been collected by Banks and Solander in Queen Charlotte 
Sound in January, 1770. Dr. Solander described it in his ‘ Primitize Flore 
Nove Zelandize”’ under the name of Ligusticum anisatum, and an excellent 
drawing was prepared for the Banksian plates. But, as already explained in 
this work, Solander’s names were never actually published, and consequently 
have no standing in systematic botany. It was again collected by the Forsters 
during Cook’s second voyage, and was published in their ‘‘ Characteres Generum 
Plantarum” (p. 41, t. 21), with an excessively crude and imperfect plate, as 
the type of a new genus under the name of Gingidiwm montanum. George 
Forster, in the later ‘* Prodromus ” (p. 22), abandoned Gingidium as a separate 
genus, and referred the plant to Ligusticwm as L. Gingidium. Hooker, in the 
“Flora Nove Zelandix ” (i, 89) included it in his genus Anisotome, but in the 
“Handbook” (p. 97) transferred it to Angelica, where it has since remained. 
From the above it is obvious that montanum is the oldest specific name, and 
a purist in nomenclature would undoubtedly call the plant Angelica montana. 
But I think it can be reasonably objected that the authors of the first specific 
name, not long alter its publication, themselves proposed the substitution of 
the second name, and that at the present time nothing but confusion could 
result from the change. 
A. Gingidium has a wide distribution. In the North Island, however, it 
is far from common, attaining its northern limit, so far as I am aware, at 
Marikopa, a little to the south of Kawhia, where it was observed a few years 
ago by Mr. EK. Philips Turner. In the South Island it is (or rather was) a 
very common plant, stretching from Nelson to the south of Otago, and with an 
altitudinal range stretching from sea-level to quite 4,000 ft. It is one of the 
tew New Zealand species that show a marked preference tor calcareous soils, 
although by no means restricted to such localities. It is greedily sought after 
by cattle and sheep, with the natural result that it is now comparatively scarce 
in districts where it was once abundant. The whole plant is strong-scented 
and aromatic, and is generally known in country districts in the South Island 
by the name of “aniseed,” from the resemblance of its odour to that of the 
well-known Anise. It may be remarked that Solander’s specific name of 
anisatum was applied for the same reason. He says “‘semina ut et tota planta 
aromatica sapore Foeniculi dulcis, odore seminum Anisi.” 
Prare 68. Angelica Gingidium, drawn from specimens gathered by Mr. F. G. Gibbs, in the Maitai 
Valley, Nelson, and in the Mount Cook district by myself. Fig. 1, male flower (x 8) ; 2, male flower, 
with the petals and stamens removed, showing the calyx and rudimentary ovary (x 8); 3, female 
flower (x 8); 4, the same with the petals removed (x8); 5, petal (x 8); 6, fruit (x6); 7, trans- 
verse section of fruit (x 12). 
