112 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. [ Rubiacee. 
Stigmata 2, hirsuta, filiformia, ad basin discreta. Bacca rotundata, carnosa, dicocca. Cocci coriacei, 
l-spermi. Semina plano-convexa, intus sulcata. Albumen corneum. 
Creeping herbs, found in shady mossy places, with opposite entire leaves, and inconspicuous axillary flowers, 
differing from Coprosma only in the flowers being hermaphrodite. (Name from veprepos, lowly ; in allusion to the 
habit of growth.) 
1. Nertera depressa, Banks et Sol.; glaberrima, caulibus repentibus, ramulis suberectis v. demissis, 
folis petiolatis late ovatis acutis, calycibus ovariisgue glaberrimis, embryone majusculo. Banks et Sol. 
in Gartner. Smith, Icon. Ined. t. 28. Fl. Antarct. p. 28. 
Has. Middle and Southern Islands. Milford Sound, Otago, and Stewart’s Island, Lyall. 
Quite smooth in every part. Stems obscurely four-angled, creeping and rooting, a span to 2 feet long, leafy at 
the joints. Leaves 4-4 inch long, on petioles as long as the lamina or shorter, broadly ovate, blunt or rather sharp, 
coriaceous or fleshy. Flowers sessile, axillary, very small and inconspicuous. Stamens exserted ; anthers broadly 
ovate. Styles 2, diverging, hairy. Berry red, fleshy, with two seeds, each enclosed in a hard plano-convex 
coriaceous nut.—This species is common in Lord Auckland’s Group and Campbell's Island; also at Cape Horn, in 
South Chili, and on the Andes as far north as Santa Fe de Bogota. 
2. Nertera Cunninghamii, Hook. fil.; tenella, glaberrima, caulibus repentibus, ramulis prostratis, 
folis parvis petiolatis anguste ovatis acutis, calycis limbo obscure 4-lobo, corolla brevi infundibuliformi 
4-loba, staminibus erectis, antheris late ovatis, stigmatibus divaricatis vix exsertis, baccis parvis oblongis. 
N. depressa, A. Cunn. Prodr. 
Has. Northern Island. Bay of Islands; common in mossy places. Falls of the Wytangi River, 
Cunningham, etc. 
A much smaller and more delicate plant than the former, with narrower, sharper leaves, and smaller berries, but 
otherwise so similar, that I have made a species of it with much hesitation. I have seen a specimen from the 
Philippine Islands (Cuming, 943) apparently identical with this. 
3. Nertera dichondrafolia, Hook. fil. ; pilosa v. villosa, caule repente ramoso, ramis prostratis, foliis 
longe petiolatis late ovato-cordatis acutis apiculatisve submembranaceis inferne glabris papillosis, floribus 
parvis axillaribus ut in N. depressa. Geophila? dichondreefolia, 4. Cunn. Prodr. Tas. XXVIII. A. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands; abundant, Cunningham, etc. Otago and Port Preservation, 
Lyalt. 
A small creeping herb, with stems, branches, and leaves on the upper surface more or less hairy. Stems a span 
to 2 feet long, prostrate, creeping, slender. Leaves on slender petioles as long as the lamina, which is 4-3 inch 
long, very broadly ovate-cordate, acute or apiculate, rather membranous, smooth below and papillose or rugose 
when dry. Flowers very small, quite like those of N. depressa, as is the fruit.—Very variable in size and amount of 
hairiness. PLATE XXVIII. 4. Fig. 1, stem with stipules; 2, flower; 3, ovarium cut across; 4, berry; 5, berry 
cut across; 6, nut; 7, vertical, and 8, transverse sections of the same :—all magnified. 
4. Nertera setulosa, Hook. fil.; pusilla, hispida v. glabrata, caule filiformi repente radicante, ramis 
tenuibus subereetis, stipulis minimis bidentatis, foliis petiolatis late ovatis rotundatisve obtusis ciliatis gla- 
bratisve, floribus parvis axillaribus, calycis tubo setoso limbo obscure lobato, corollee tubo elongato ore cam- 
panulato 4-fido, lobis setosis glabratisve, filamentis longe exsertis, antheris lineari-oblongis basi bicaudatis, 
stigmatibus filiformibus exsertis hirsutis, baccis setosis 2-coccis, embryone parvo. Tas. XXVIII. 2. 
Has. Northern Island. Fast coast. Palliser Bay, Colenso. 
Stems slender, rather rigid and wiry, creeping, rooting. Branches suberect, 1-2 inches long, smooth or hispid. 
Leaves on short petioles, 4-3 inch long, loosely covered with stiff white hairs, smooth below, broadly ovate or oblong, 
en 
