Loranthacee.| FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 99 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands, chiefly on the eastern shores; not uncommon, Cunningham, 
Colenso, ete. Fl. September. (Cultivated in England.) 
A low, spreading, rigid shrub, with black, tortuous, woody branches. Leaves alternate or fascicled, small, 4—2 
inch long, rounded, obovate, obcordate, or spathulate, narrowed into a linear flat petiole. Flowers small, axillary, 
solitary or fascicled. Berries red, fleshy, 4 inch long. 
Nar. Orv. XLI. LORANTHACEA, Juss. 
Gen. I. LORANTHUS, Linn. 
Flores hermaphroditi. Calycis tubus ovatus, ovario adnatus; limbo truncato, obsoleto. Petala 4-8, 
valvata, libera v. coalita. Stamina 4-8, petalis opposita, iis inserta; antheris 2-locularibus. Ovarium 
l-loculare; stylo elongato; stigmate incrassato. Bacca 1-locularis, l-sperma. Semen albuminosum; 
embryone recto v. obliquo ; radicula tereti, supera; cotyledonibus plano-convexis. 
Parasitical evergreen herbs or shrubs, growing attached to the branches of woody plants, from which they 
derive their nourishment by sucker-like roots, which penetrate the bark. Leaves opposite or alternate, quite entire, 
very thick and coriaceous, jointed on to the stem. Flowers in axillary or terminal spikes, panicles, or corymbs. 
Calyx tube united with ovary ; limb truncate, very short. Corolla of four to eight long pieces, free or united into a 
terete tube below, valvate, fleshy, deciduous. Stamens united with and opposite the petals. Ovary one-celled, with 
a straight or curved style and capitate stigma. Berry ovoid, with one albuminous seed generally attached to the walls 
of the cavity all round, and a straight or curved embryo; radicle terete, pointing upwards.—I have purposely 
avoided all allusion to the number and position of the ovules in this genus, which involves one of the most difficult 
points in vegetable anatomy for investigation, and about which nothing very conclusive has been published. I have 
also adopted the usual view of the calyx and corolla, which I believe to be the true one, and is the only one accord- 
ant with the relations of the similar parts in Cornee, Santalacee, and other allied Orders; but many botanists of 
eminence consider what I call the calyx as an expansion of the apex of the peduncle, in which the ovary is sunk, and 
the corolla as a true calyx; chiefly because of the stamens being opposite and attached to it. It would be out of 
place here to argue against this latter view, which appears to me hypothetical and paradoxical, and to support which 
the regulaxly-lobed superior calyces of many plants must be supposed to be of similar origin, and to be anoma- 
lous productions of the peduncle. Loranthus is a most abundant Tropical genus; one species inhabits middle and 
southern Europe, several are Chilian, and others New Holland ; none are known from Tasmania or Fuegia; in the 
latter country the curious genus Myzodendron takes its place. (Name from depos, a thong, and avbos, a flower ; the 
eorolla being composed of narrow strap-shaped. pieces.) 
1. Loranthus tetrapetalus, Forst.; foliis oppositis breve petiolatis elliptico-oblongis obtusis, floribus 
axillaribus solitariis v. geminis, petalis 4 linearibus liberis. Forst. Prodr. De Cand. Prodr. A. Rich. Flor. 
A. Cunn. Prodr. 
Has. Northern Island, and northern parts of Middle Island; abundant, Banks and Solander. 
Forster, etc. 
Parasitical, often on Metrosideros and Vitex; very handsome. Stems terete, branched, 1-2 feet long. Leaves 
opposite, shortly petiolate (1 inch long), elliptical-oblong, blunt. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs, as long as 
the leaves. Peduncle very short, bracteolate at the apex. Calya limb produced into a broad open cup. Petals 
slender, free, the lower half erect, upper patent or recurved. Anthers linear. Stigma very small. 
2. Loranthus Colensoi, Hook. fil.; folis oppositis petiolatis late oblongis rhombeisve obtusis sub- 
enerviis, floribus magnis racemosis, pedunculis validis brevibus 3-7-floris, floribus oppositis cum terminali, 
petalis liberis. Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 633. 
