Plate 125.— CYATH01)P]S OOLENSOI. 



Family KPA('R1I)A('K/E.| [(Irnits CYATHODKS. Lamim- 



Cyathodes Colensoi, Ihmk. /. Il,t,i,ll,. S.'A. /'V. 177; CV/re.sr///. Mnv. N .Z. Fl. 112. 



Cyathodes Cnlemoi is one of the many discoveries that we owe to the unwearied 

 diligence of Mr. Colenso. It was first gathered by him in February, 1847, at the 

 eastern base of Tongariro. Speaking of it in his " Journeys to the Ruahine Range," 

 p. 39, he says, " During the former part of this day T met with several botanical 

 novelties— e.g., a very handsome full-flowered Cyathodes (C. Colemoi), a low bushy 

 shrub of depressed growth, some plants bearing white and some red berries in 

 profusion. This will become a garden flower." In following years he also collected 

 it on the Ruahine Mountains and in other localities, and it was solely from his 

 specimens that the species was described by Sir J. D. Hooker in the " Flora," where, 

 however, it was treated as a Leucofogon. Since that time, however, the range of the 

 plant has been more fully worked out. In addition to the localities given by 

 Colenso, it has been recorded from the Kaimanawa and Tararua Mountains, in the 

 North Island. In the South Island it is fairly plentiful on the mountains of Nelson 

 and Canterbury, but mainly on the eastern side of the dividing-range. It was not 

 gathered by Mr. Townson in the vicinity of Westport, nor do I find it quoted in the 

 list of plants collected by Mr. Hamilton near Okarito. In Otago it appears to be 

 local, but it has been gathered in isolated localities as far south as the Blue 

 Mountains. Its altitudinal range is from 2,000 ft. to 5,000 ft. 



On the central volcanic plateau of the North Island, where I have had repeated 

 opportunities of observing it, C. Colensoi forms broad depressed patches 2 ft. to 6 ft. 

 in diameter, the branches rising to a height of from 3 in. to 3 ft. The leaves are 

 linear-oblong, obtuse or shortly mucronate, and glaucous beneath, while the flowers 

 are arranged in terminal racemes. The berries are considerably smaller than those 

 of C. acerosa. Although generally found in localities where the grass Danthonia 

 Raoulii is the predominant species, it is often associated with other shrubs, a,s 

 Pentachondra, Coprosma depressa, GnuUheria antipoda, &c.. and with Celmisia 

 spectahilis and other herbaceous plants. 



C. Colensoi does not seem to be very closely allied to any of the New Zealand 

 species. Sir J. D. Hooker, in the '• Handbook," states that it is " intermediate 

 between Cyathodes and Leucopogon in characters, but with the habit of the former 

 genus, to which I have referred it, both on this account and because of its extremely 

 close 'affinity with C. Tameinmeice, Cham., of the Sandwich Islands ; it is also 

 most closely allied to Leucopogon suaveolens of the Borneo Alps, which may be a 

 Cyathodes." I have had no opportunity of comparing the New Zealand plant with 

 the two species mentioned by Hooker. 



Plate 125. Viialliodes Colensoi. drawn from specimeus collet-ted on Dun Mountain, NcLson, l>y 

 Mr. F. (!. Gibbs. Fig. 1, portion of branchlet with two flower.s (x4); 2, flower, with the corolla 

 removed (x .5) ; .3, corolla laid open (x .5) ; 4 and .5, front and back view of anther (x 7) ; 6, ovary 

 {x5): 7, longitudinal section of ovary (x5); 8, ripe fruit (x.5): 9, transverse section of same 

 (x .5) ; 10. longitudinal section of same (x .5) ; 11, embryo (x 10). 



