230 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



obtained from the jalap-root. The poisonous constituent of 

 the European C. myrtifolia has been termed " coriamyrtin " 

 and is distinct from "tutin,"' though both probably belong to 

 the same chemical series. 



Icacinaceae. 



The Lasiantheea Family. 



Distribution. — An unimportant tropical family, comprising 38 genera, of 

 which only one is found in New Zealand. This genus is also found in Norfolk 

 Island. 



Genus Pennantia. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves alternate. Flowers in large terminal panicles. 

 Sepals and petals 5. Stamens 5, attached to the top of the stem. Drupe 

 small, stone three-angled. The genus is named after the Scotch naturalist, 

 Pennant. 



Pennantia copymbosa {Tlte Corymbose Pennantia.) 



A tree, 10-40 ft. in height. Leaves 1 in. to 4 in. long. Flowers small, 

 numierous, waxy-white, fragrant ; flowering stems white and hairy. Drupes 

 black and fleshy. Both islands. Fl. Nov. -Dec. Maori name, Kaikomnko. 



This is an interesting little tree, not uncommon in many 

 parts of the country. In its young state it is a shrub, with 

 long, flexuous, interlacing branches, and small, distant, sessile, 

 truncate, variable, wedge-shaped leaves. When full-grown, it 

 is a handsome tree, 20 ft. to 30 ft. high, with broadly oblong, 

 short-stalked, glossy leaves, about two inches in length. 

 Only a keen student of nature would recognize in tlie rather 

 ugly shrub, the precursor of the ornamental tree. The 

 profuse, white, fragrant flowers make it well worthy of 

 cultivation. The curious black fungus, so common on the 

 native beeches, is sometimes found on the bark of this tree. 



The seed is suspended in the ovary by a remarkable 

 filamentous process, which originates outside the fruit, and, 



