Plate 16:^.^PLANTAG0 RAOULII. 



Family PLANTAaiNACE^.] [Genus PLANTAGO, Linn. 



Plantago Raoulii, Deoie. in D.C. Prndr. xiii. i. 703 ; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 570. 



Tlie genus Plantago is well represented in New Zealand, no less than seven 

 species being known, of which all but one are endemic. P. Raoulii, which I have 

 selected for illustration in this work, was first gathered by Banks and Solander in 

 Queen Charlotte Sound, near Picton, in .January, 1770. A good description is given 

 in Solander's manuscripts under the name of P. erecta, and a very accurate drawing 

 is included among the unpublished Banksian plates. The next botanist to collect 

 the species was Richard Cunningham, who in 1834 obtained it in the Bay of Islands 

 district. His specimens v^f^rt^, referred by his brother Allan to the Australian 

 P. varia, and appeared under that name in the " Precursor." The mistake is not to 

 be wondered at, the two species being very closely allied. In 1840 the French 

 botanist Raoul gathered it at Akaroa, and his specimens passing under the hands 

 of Decaisne, then the unchallenged authority on the genus, the species was 

 published under the name of P. Raoulii. 



P. Raoulii has a very extensive distribution within the Dominion, ranging 

 from the North Cape to Stewart Island. It is most abundant on moist ground near 

 the sea, but is also found inland, and ascends to well over 3,000 ft. Its nearest 

 ally is probably the Australian P. varia. 



Plate 163. Plantago Raoulii, drawn from specimens collected near Hawera, Taranaki. Figs. 1 

 and 2, flowers ( x 6) : 3 and 4, front and back view of anthers (x 10) ; o, ovary and style (x 6) : 

 6, transverse section of ovary (x 7) : 7. longitudinal section of ovary (x 7) ; 8, placenta ( x 8) ; 9, ripe 

 capsule ( X 4) ; 10, placenta ( x 6) ; 11 . upper seed ( x 8) ; 12, one of the lower seeds ( x 8). 



