Rhamnee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 45 
plant in the Natural System has been much disputed, it having apparent claims to rank near Chenopodiee and Phyto- 
laccee, though stronger, on the whole, to be retained near Rutacee. (Name from corium, leather; the bark being 
used for tanning.) 
1. Coriaria ruscifolia, Linn.; foliis magnis oblongo-ovatis ovato-cordatisve acutis v. acuminatis 
3-5-nerviis, racemis elongatis nutantibus. C. sarmentosa, Forst. Prodr. p. 911. DC. Prodr. A. Rich. 
Flora. A. Cunn. Prodr. Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 2470. C. hermaphrodita, Banks et Sol. MSS. e£ Ic. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands, abundant, Forster, ete. Nat. name, “ Tupa-kihi,” Colenso. 
“Tutu” and “ Puhou” of Southern Island, Lya/.. (Cultivated in England.) 
A shrub, 10-14 feet high, with long flagellate four-angled branches, and a trunk sometimes 6-8 inches 
diameter. The leaves are pretty constantly oblong-ovate, acuminate, sessile or upon very short petioles, 3—4 inches 
long. Racemes slightly pubescent, axillary, 8-12 inches long, gracefully drooping ; pedicels 2 inch long, with a 
small subulate bract at the base. Flowers small, green. Calyz lobes broadly ovate, subacute. Petals small, fleshy. 
Stamens on filiform filaments; anthers sometimes abortive in what hence become female flowers; but I think the 
plant is usually hermaphrodite —Mr. Cunningham describes the flowers as unisexual, and the petals as glands. The 
amount of swelling of these glands, which finally enclose the ripe carpels and give the fruit the appearance of a berry, 
varies much. Mr. Colenso, however, considers this a character of importance, and states that the less juicy berries 
have seeds that are not poisonous; but I do not find these characters united with any botanical ones. The fruit 
yields a purple juice, which is grateful, and much liked by the natives, but soon ferments. A wine may also be 
made from it, tasting very like elder-berry wine. The seeds are considered poisonous, producing convulsions, 
delirium, and sometimes death. De Candolle states that the like effects were produced upon the French army 
in Catalonia by the seeds of C. myrtifolia. The present species seems identical with the South American one, 
which abounds in South Chili. 
2. Coriaria thymifolia, Humb.; foliis parvis (vel minimis) ovatis acuminatis lanceolatis linearibusve 
1-5-nerviis glabris pubescentibusve. Humboldt in Willdenow. DC. Prodr. v. 1. p. 189. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands; not so abundant as C. ruscifolia, and affecting drier localities. 
East coast and interior, Colenso. Nelson, Bidwill. Milford Sound, Lyall. 
A small shrub, with much smaller, longer, and sharper leaves than the former, of which it is most probably a 
variety, judging both from South American and New Zealand specimens, which do not materially differ from one 
another. The American have generally broader leaves than this plant, more resembling those of C. ruscifolia, but 
constantly smaller. In New Zealand, though often quite narrow and linear-lanceolate, they preseut all gradations of 
size, from 1-1 inch long, and of form between lanceolate and oblong-ovate. The plant varies much in pubescence ; 
the flowers differ in no respect from those of C. ruscifolia. In America it ranges from Mexico to Peru, and is ap- 
parently a mountain plant, found at elevations of 4000 to 12,000 feet. 
Nat. Og». XXI. RHAMNEA, br. 
Gen. I. POMADERRIS, Lab. 
Calycis tubus obconicus v. hemispheericus, ovarii basi connatus; lobis 5, intus glabris. Petala 0 v. 5, 
parva, erecta. Stamina 5, petalis opposita. Ovarium %-superum, villosum, 3-loculare; ovulis loculis 
solitariis erectis; stylo 3-fido. Capsula calycis tubo basi vestita, 3-cocca, coccis indehiscentibus ; semi- 
nibus erectis, funiculo brevi incrassato cupuleformi. 
A large genus, composed almost, entirely of New Holland and Tasmanian erect or branching pubescent shrubs, 
of which two species are common in New Zealand. Leaves alternate. Flowers paniculate or corymbose, rather small. 
Calyx hairy, with a short tube and five spreading lobes, smooth inside. Petals small, erect, placed on the calyx. 
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