210 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



GemiH Gliantlms. 



A small genus of perhaps four species. The New Zealand species is endemic. 

 Small trees with pinnate leaves, and conspicuous flowers. Calyx 5-toothed, 

 Wings half as long as the keel. Pod oblong, 2-valved, many seeded. (Name 

 from the Greek, signifying & reclining flmver , in allusion to the recurved standard) . 



Clianthus puniceus {The Scarlet Cliantlms). 



A drooping undershrub, with silky branches. Leaves 4 in. -6 in. long, 

 pinnate. Leaflets in 8-14 pairs. Flowers in long, pendulous racemes, bright 

 scarlet, 2 inches in length. Auckland Province, rare ; chiefly near old Maori 

 cultivations. PL Aug. -Oct. This tree is known as the Red Koivhai, Parrot's 

 Bill or Kaka's Beak. Native name Kmvhai-ngutu-kaka, signifying the Parrot- 

 beaked kowhai. It is also called in the Uriwera Country Ngutii-Kakariki, the 

 ParroqueV s Beak. PI. Aug. -Nov. 



This is one of the most gorgeous of our flowering plants. Its 

 flowers in their brilliancy of colour form a marked contrast to 

 the greens, whites, and yellows, of most other New Zealand 

 species. Though such a showy plant, it is scarcely a graceful 

 one. The heavy, dark-green, glossy, pinnate leaves do not set 

 off the scarlet flowers to the best advantage. However, the 

 plant is widely cultivated, and when introduced into England 

 in 1831, specimens of it were sold at £5 each. It grows well 

 in Dunedin, but is apt to be cut back in winter by the more 

 severe and continuous frosts of Christchurch. 



The plant — always rare — -is now scarcely ever seen except 

 in gardens, and is becoming extinct on the mainland, though 

 still to be found on the cliffs round Lake Waikare-Moana, and 

 on the Great Barrier Island. At one time it was comparatively 

 common in the East Cape district, and in the early days it was- 

 seen near the Bay of Islands. It would probably have been 

 long ago exterminated, had it not been cultivated by the 

 Maoris, and also by the Europeans. The flowers are pollinated 

 by birds [cf. Phormium, Sophora, Vite.r, etc.) 



GetuiH SopJiora. 



Trees with pinnate leaves, and conspicuous flowers. Calyx inflated. 

 Standard very broad ; wings shorter than the keel. Stamens 10, free. Pod 

 angled or 4-winged ; seeds oblong. (Name from So2)]iero, the Arabic for a 

 papilionaceous-flowered tree.) 



