152 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Genus Polygonum. 



Very variable herbs, rarely shrubs, sometimes aquatic. Stipules often 

 fringed. Flowers white or red, usually in spikes or racemes, sometimes axillary 

 and solitary. Perianth 5-lobed ; stamens usually 6 - 8. Ovary triangular. A 

 large genus, of which the British species are known as knot-grass, bistort, etc. 

 (Name from the Greek, meaning many knots, in allusion to the knotted stems). 

 3 sp. 



Polygonum aviculare. {The Common Knot-grass). 

 Stem woody at the base. Branches hard, grooved, often prostrate, 6in. - 24in. 

 long. Leaves ^in. - l^in. long, leathery, linear oblong; stipules silvery, ragged. 

 Flowers small, axillary, 1 - .3. Nut triangular. Very common on waste ground, 

 perhaps introduced. Fl. Dec. -March. 



Genus Milhlen heckia. 



Shrubs, often climbing. Flowers usually spiked or panicled, sometimes 

 axillary and solitary. Perianth 5-lobed, becoming fleshy in fruit, white. 

 Stamens, 8. Ovary triangular in shape. Nut ovoid, black, enclosed in the white, 

 fleshy perianth. A small genus found in South America, New Zealand and 

 Australia. 4 sp. 



Muhlenbeckia adpressa. (The Close-fitting Milhlenbeckia). 



A large rambling climber. Stem, twining, grooved. Leaves ^-in. - 2in. 

 long, oblong or heart-shaped, 3-lobed in young plants. Flowers in spiked 

 panicles, green, small. Stigmas, plumose. Nut black, enclosed in the white 

 fleshy perianth. Both islands : common. Also in Norfolk Island, Australia and 

 Tasmania. Fl. Nov. 



Muhlenbeckia complexa. {The Clasping Milhlenbeckia). 



Stems slender, creeping or climbing, interlacing, wiry, grooved. Leaves 

 shining, J-inch -^inch long, rounded or heart-shaped. Flowers in s^jikes or 

 panicles, few. Nut black, enclosed in the white fleshy perianth. Both islands. 

 Fl. Nov. 



Muhlenbeckia axillaris. {The Axillanj-Floivered Milhlenbeckia). 



A small, variable si^ecies, with slender, tufted branches. Leaves small, 

 shining, t*!!!!!- "iii^- long, oblong, obtuse. Flowers axillary, solitary. Perianth 

 fleshy in fruit. Both islands: chiefly in mountainous districts. Fl. Oct. -Nov. 



Genus Hum ex. 



Herbs, rarely shrubby. Stipules ragged. Flowers in racemes or panicles, 

 inconspicuous, green or reddish. Sepals, G, the 3 inner enlarged. Styles 3. 

 Fruit a triangular nut, covered by the three enlarged inner sepals. A large and 

 widelv distributed genus, to which belong the Docks and the Sorrels. "2 sp. 



