Violariee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. — ER 
Gen. II. HYMENANTHERA, Banks. 
Flores regulares. Sepala 5, imbricata. Petala 5, patenti-recurva, oblique imbricata. Stamina 
subsessilia, in tubum coalita, connectivo in cristam producto dorso appendiculato. Ovarium 1-loculare, 
stylo brevi bifido ramis intus stigmatiferis; ovulis 2 parietalibus. Bacca 1-locularis, 2- rarius 1-sperma. 
Semina parietibus oppositis affixa, superposita, superius horizontale, inferius pendulum; testa crustacea ; 
albumine copioso; embryone cylindraceo, radicula hilo proxima. 
Shrubs, of which one species is a native of New Zealand, another of Tasmania, a third of New Holland, and a 
fourth of Norfolk Island. Flowers regular, small, on short peduncles, axillary or from the branches. Anthers 
sessile, with a claw at the back. Fruit a small two-seeded berry. (Name from öumv, a membrane, from the 
appendage at the back of the anther.) 
1. Hymenanthera crassifolia, Hook. fil.; ramulis crassis puberulis, foliis 3 lin. 2 unc. longis lineari- 
spathulatis v. rhombeo-ovatis obtusis integerrimis sinuato-dentatisve crassis coriaceis, petalis sepalisque 
eroso-dentatis. Scevola Novx-Zelandie, 4. Cunn. Prodr. Tas. VII. 
Has. Northern Island, east coast; on maritime rocks opposite the” Cavallos Islands, R. Cunning- 
ham. Cape Palliser, Colenso. Middle Island, Nelson, Bidwill. 
A rigid woody shrub, often prostrate, sometimes erect and 2-4 feet high, much branched, the branchlets 
pubescent ; bark white. Leaves thick and leathery, so variable in form and size as often to be scarcely recognizable, 
generally linear-spathulate, 1 inch long, blunt, veined when dry, in young shoots much larger, broader, sinuate 
or toothed. Stipules very minute, ovate. Flowers very small, solitary or two or three together, from the axils of the 
leaves, on short, thick, curved peduncles, which have a sheathing bract. Sepals five, fleshy, rounded, erose. Petals 
linear-oblong, recurved. Stamens five, united by the broad connectiva into a tube, sessile; each anther terminated 
by a fimbriated claw, and furnished at the back with an erect blunt linear appendage. Berries 2-3 lines long, 
oblong, seated on the persistent withered corolla, terminated by the bifid style, blue-purple, one-celled, two-seeded ; 
seeds hard.—Very nearly allied to the Tasmanian H. angustifolia, Br., in which I also find a one-celled, two-seeded 
berry ; but the leaves are thicker in texture, and not so narrow. The strophiolus at the chalaza is more evident in 
the Tasmanian plant. —PLATE VII. A and B, specimens in flower and fruit of the ordinary form ; C, young shoot :— 
natural size. Wig. 1, leaf and stipules; 2 and 3, flowers; 4, petal; 5, stamens; 6, the same laid open and seen in 
front; 7, ovarium; 8, longitudinal section of the same; 9, ovule, cut longitudinally ; 10, ripe berry; 11, the same 
cut longitudinally ; 12, seed :—all magnified. 
Gen. III. MELICYTUS, Forst. 
Dioicus v. polygamus. Flores regulares. Sepala 5, persistentia, oblonga, obtusa, imbricata. Petala 5, 
lineari-oblonga, patenti-recurva. Fl. 2. Stamina 5, sessilia, connectivo apice obtuso v. in appendicem 
subulatam v. dilatatam producto, basi dorso ligula v. glandula erecta instructo, antheris 2-locularibus. 
Ovarii rudimentum conicum. Fl. 9. Stamina squamule dorso appendiculate. Ovarium ovatum, stylo 
erecto 3—B-fido v. stigmatibus 3-5 sessilibus coronatum, 1-loculare, ovulis paucis v. plurimis placentis 
3-4 parietalibus solitariis v. biseriatim affixis. Bacca globosa. Semina pauca v. plurima, dense congesta, 
angulata; testa crustacea v. coriacea; albumine copioso; cotyledonibus dilatatis, plano-convexis; radicula 
hilo proxima, cylindracea. 
Large, smooth, dicecious, woody shrubs, or small trees, only known to inhabit New Zealand and Norfolk Island. 
This genus has hitherto been placed in Flacourtianee; but certainly belongs to Violariee, and is closely allied to 
Hymenanthera. Leaves large, petiolate, smooth, serrate. Flowers small, in little bundles on the branches; each on 
a slender peduncle, which bears one or more often connate bracts. Calyx of five blunt pieces, united at the base. 
D 
