142 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



they send out suckers into the tree, and at these points, 

 rounded woody lumps are formed, invested with dark-brown 

 membranous scales. The earlier leaves of the plant are 

 strongly tinged with reddish pui'ple, some are of a pale bronze 

 margined with claret, and the branches are of a rich warm 

 brown. Some years elapse before the plants assume the 

 darker shades of green. 



L. Fieldii often puts out short rootlets which clasp the 

 branch, and frequently grows on branches smaller than 

 itself. " Thus," Field [loc. cit.), " one with roots from one to 

 one and a half inches thick will grow on a branch no thicker 

 than a man's little finger, which, of course, bends down with 

 its w^eight, so that the Lorafitlius swings about with every 

 breath of air." Yet it is evident that the plant is nourished 

 by the beech tree, for, if the beech is killed, the Loranthus 

 invariably dies with it. 



There are many points of interest known with regard to 

 the development of European species of Lorantluis, and a 

 closer investigation of New Zealand forms will undoubtedly 

 well repay the labour spent upon it. 



Loranthus Colensoi (Colenso's Mistletoe). 



A large glabrous shrub. Leaves 1^ iu.-2 iu. long, broadly oblong or 

 obovate, with a short stout petiole. Flowers 1^ in. -2 in. long, scarlet, in pairs, 

 on a short, stout, 3-9-flowered peduncle. Both islands. Fl.. Dec. -Jan. 



L. Fieldii is a little-known somewhat similar species from the centre of the 

 North Island. 



Loranthus tetrapetalus {The Fonr-petaled Mistletoe). 



A much branched rigid shrub. Leaves decussate, \ in.-| in. long, ovate or 

 elliptic. Flowers axillary, in opposite 2-4-flowered racemes. Petals free, scarlet, 

 recurved at the tips. Both islands. Common on Nothofcigus Solandri. Fl. 

 Jan. -Feb. 



Loranthus flavidus {The Yellow Mistletoe). 



Leaves 1 in. -2 in. long. Racemes drooping, 10-12 flowered. Flower 

 yellow, ^ in. long. Both islands. 



