Verbenacee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 203 
NAT. Ord. LXII. VERBENACEA, Juss. 
Gen. 1. VITEX, Z. 
Calya brevis, integer v. 5-dentatus. Corolla 2-labiata; labio superiore 2-fido, inferiore 3-fido, lacinia 
media majore. Stamina 4, didynama, ascendentia. Stigma bifidum. Drupa putamine 4-loculari, 4- 
spermo. 
The only New Zealand species of this extensive tropical genus is a large tree, 50-60 feet high and 20 in girth ; 
well known (as are many of its congeners) for the valuable timber it yields, which is hard, easily split, works well, 
and is indestructible under water. Branches spreading. Leaves opposite, on petioles 2—4 inches long; leaflets 
ternate or quinate, petiolate, elliptical or obovate, suddenly acute, quite glabrous, 3-4 inches long. Panicles axillary 
and terminal, spreading, four- to eight-flowered, dichotomously branched, 2-3 inches broad; branches and pedicels 
slender. Calye short, cup-shaped, obscurely lobed. Corolla pubescent, an inch long, dull red, two-lipped ; upper lip 
arched, bifid, lower deflexed, trifid. Stamens four, exserted, ascending, two shorter than the others. Stigma bifid. 
Ovary four-celled, four-ovuled. Drupe obovoid, with a bony four-celled four-seeded nut. (Name, the old Latin 
one, of unknown derivation.) 
1. Vitex Zittoralis, Cunn.; foliis glaberrimis 3-5 -foliolatis, foliolis petiolatis ellipticis obovatisve acutis 
integerrimis, panicule 4-8-florce ramis patentibus gracilibus, calyce hemispheerico truncato, corolla pubescente, 
drupa obovoidea. 4. Cunn. Prodr. DC. Prodr. Ephialis pentaphylla, Banks et Sol. MSS. et Ic. 
Has. Northern Island. From the east coast, northward, Banks and Solander, etc. Rare in the 
Middle Island. Nat. names, “ Puriri,” and * Kaneree” south of the Thames, Colenso. (Cultivated in 
England.) 
Gen. II. TEUCRIDIUM, Hook. fil. 
Calyx campanulatus, 5-dentatus. Corolla campanulata; limbo insequali, 5-fido. Stamina 4, didy- 
nama. Stylus bifidus. Ovarium 9-loculare; loculis fere bilocellatis, 2-spermis; ovulis angulo interiore 
pendulis. Fructus ad medium 4-lobum, e coccis 4 confluentibus conflatum, 4-spermum. Semina angulo 
interiore pendula.—Herba 5-pedalis, erecta, ramosa, puberula, Teucrii facie. Caulis ramigue 4-goni. 
Folia opposita, spathulata v. ovato-rotundata, petiolata, obtusa, integerrima. Flores awillares, solitarii, 
breve pedicellati ; pedicello 2-bracteato. Calyx campanulatus, 5-nervius; dentibus subulatis. Corolle 
pilosa tubus calyce aquilongus ; limbi lobis oblongis, obtusis. Stamina erserta; antheris peltatis, 1-locu- 
laribus. Ovarium pilosum. Fructus nucumentaceus, calyce ringente inclusus. 
A very curious plant, resembling a Teucrium; but truly Verbenaceous, and, though so different in habit, allied 
to Vitex. Mr. Bidwill says it forms thickets, and grows 2-3 feet high. Herbaceous, 4—5 feet high according to Mr. 
Colenso, erect, dichotomously branched, more or less pubescent. Stems slender, four-angled. Leaves opposite, in 
scattered pairs, petiolate, with the petiole 11 inch long, rounded, broadly ovate or spathulate, blunt, quite entire. 
Flowers solitary, axillary, shortly pedicellate; pedicel with two bracts. Calyx bell-shaped, with five sharp teeth. 
Corolla hairy, broadly bell-shaped, about + inch long, deeply divided into five obovate blunt unequal lobes. Sta- 
mens four, didynamous, exserted. Anthers one-celled. Ovary four-lobed, hairy, two-celled, the cells incompletely 
divided into two. Ovules four, pendulous. Style exserted, with two unequal subulate arms. Fruit a small four- 
lobed hispid nut, sunk in the bottom of the withered persistent calyx, of four achenia, each hard, one-celled, with 
one pendulous exalbuminous seed ; testa thin; cotyledons large, ovate; radicle short, pointing downwards. (Named 
from the general resemblance to Teucrium.) 
1. Teucridium parvifolium, Hook. fil. Tas. XLIX. 
