312 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



to be accurate, as in the Kaipara district, at least, the 

 prevaiHng variety is P. unifoliolatnm. 



Genus Meryta. 



A genus of about 16 species, of which one is endemic in New Zealand. 

 Branches resinous. Leaves large, glossy. Flowers in terminal panicles, sessile. 

 Staminate flowers with a .3-5-toothed calyx ; petals and stamens 4-5. Stamens 

 longer than the petals. Fruit an oblong berry. 



Meryta Sinclairii. 



A handsome tree, from 12 ft. -24 ft. in height. Leaves very glossy, 

 alternate, 9 in. -20 in. long, 4 in. -10 in. broad, margin waved, nerves prominent. 

 Flowers in erect panicles, greenish-yellow. Staminate flowers in fours, each 

 with 4 stamens. Pistillate flowers solitary or crowded, petals 5-6, styles 3-6, 

 unfertile stamens 5-6. Fruit § in. long, oblong, black, shining, .3-6-celled, 

 1-seeded. Three Kings Islands, Taranga Island. Rare. Fl. June. 



Genus Schejflera. 



About 20 species, of which one is endemic in New Zealand. Shrubs or 

 trees, with digitate leaves. Flowers umbellate, in racemes or panicles. Calyx 

 6-toothed. Petals and stamens 5. Styles 5-10. Fruit round, fleshy, 5-10- 

 celled, 5-10-seeded. 



Schefflera digitata. 



A small tree, 10 ft. -20 ft. in height. Leaves 5-10-foliolate, with sheathing 

 petioles ; leaflets petioled, membranous, toothed, 3 in. -7 in. long, oblong- 

 lanceolate, sometimes pinnatifid. Umbels \ in.-^ in. across. Fruit purplish- 

 black, ^5 in. -5^5 in. in diameter. Both islands: abmidant. Stewart Island. 

 Fl. Feb. -March. 



Umbelliferae. 



The Parsley and Carrot Family. 



Distribution. — A large and widely distributed family of plants, which, from 

 their varying properties, may be divided into four groups : — 



(1) Those which possess a poisonous watery sap, such as the Hemlock ; 

 (2) those which contain aromatic oils, such as the Caraway and Anise ; (3) those 

 which yield gum-resins, such as Asafoetida ; (4) those whose roots, stems, or 

 leaves are edible, and are used as vegetables, such as Celery, Carrot, Parsley, etc. 

 Of the New Zealand genera, Acii)hylla and Ligusticum are the most important. 



