Plate 181.— BCEHMERIA DEALBATA. 



Family URTICACEiE.] [Genus BCEHMERIA, Jacq. 



Bcehmeria dealbata, C'heesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xxiv (1892), tlO ; Ckeesem. Man. N.Z. 

 Fl. 637. 



Our knowledge of this fine species of Bcehmeria dates from August, 1887, when 

 I collected it on Sunday Island, the chief island of the Kermadec Group, during 

 a visit of the Colonial Government steamer " Stella," made for the purpose of form- 

 ally annexing the group to the Colony of New Zealand. At that time I was inclined 

 to place it as a variety of the Norfolk Island B. australis, a species with which I was 

 only acquainted through the descriptions of Endlicher and Weddell, and I accord- 

 ingly referred it to that plant in my account of the flora of the Kermadec Islands 

 published in the " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute " (vol. xx, p. 173). 

 Later on, however, Mr. Hemsley did me the favour of comparing it with authentic 

 specimens of B. australis, and ascertained that it differed from that species in having 

 the leaves more shortly petiolate, 3-nerved and otherwise strongly nerved, and with 

 the upper surface distinctly rugulose. It appears to be intermediate in its characters 

 between the Norfolk Island B. australis and the Lord Howe Island B. calophleba. 



The genus Bcehmeria, which attains its southern limit in the Kermadec Islands, 

 is found in almost all tropical and subtropical countries, the number of species known 

 being about fifty. At the time of my visit B. dealbata was not uncommon in woods 

 in the lower portions of Sunday Island, and it has since been noticed by all visitors 

 interested in the plants of the island. Mr. W. R. B. Oliver, who has recently made 

 a careful botanical exploration of the whole group, also observed it on the rocky 

 sides of some ravines in Macaulay Island. 



I have had B. dealbata in cultivation in my garden at Renmera since 1888. 

 Although the flowers are small and inconspicuous, and oft'er no attraction to the 

 horticulturist, the plant is not without some value in the shrubbery. Its growth 

 is rapid, it stands exposure well, and it has a neat and compact mode of growth. 

 In addition, the leaves are decidedly handsome from their conspicuous ribbing, and 

 from the contrast between the hoary white of the under surface and the green and 

 glabrous upper surface. 



Plate 181. Bcehiiicn'a dedlbulu, (hawn from specimens cultivated in Auckland. Fig. I, male 

 flower ( X 8) ; 2, the same with the perianth laid open ( x 8) ; 3 and 4, front and back view of stamens 

 (x 8) ; 5, female flower ( x 8) ; 6, the same laid open ( x 8) ; 7. enlarged perianth enclosing the ripe 

 fruit ( X 6) ; 8, fruit removed from the perianth ( x 8) ; 9, embryo (enlarged). 



