ROOT PARASITES 151 



rather unpleasant smell". On the other hand Mr. Hill, who 

 found it in the East Cape district, states that it was " the 

 delicious daphne-like fragrance which it emitted," that first 

 drew his attention to it. Our plant, indeed, is not one of 

 the foul-smelling or fungoid forms, although the flowering 

 stems are inconspicuous and of a dull-brown colour, and are 

 clothed with overlapping fleshy scales. According to Ta34or, 

 the " petals of the flowers are slightly tinged with pink in the 

 centre, but in general they are of a dirty white and brown 

 colour." 



By the Maoris the plant is called Pua-o-te-reinga (The 

 flower of Hades). Why this term was applied to it, is not 

 clear, but it seems not inappropriate. It has been found on 

 the roots of Schefflera digitata and Coprosma grandifolia, as 

 well as on the roots of the plants already mentioned. Fusanus 

 Giinninghamii and Euphrasia cuneata are also, it is believed, 

 partly root parasites. (The name Dactylanthus is from the 

 Greek, meaning Finger-jiowered, in allusion to the finger-like 

 spike). 



Polygonaceae. 



The Buckwheat Family. 



Distribution. — A widely distributed family of plants, occurring both in 

 arctic and tropical regions. The leaves and stems are usually acid or astringent, 

 and frequently contain oxalic or malic acid. The Rhubarb, Sorrel, Dock, and 

 Buckwheat are well-known members of this family. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Flowers, unisexual. Miihlenbeckia, p. 152 

 Flowers, hermaphrodite. 2 



2. Stigmas, tufted. Rumex. p. 152. 

 Stigmas capitate. Polygonum 152. 



*Rev. R. Taylor. New Zealand, and its Inhabitants, p. 697. 



