TEE ART ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



103 



GENUS I. 

 COEIARIA (Ziim.) The Coriaria. 



Generic Chakacikr. — Shrubs :ind herbs, with anguhir 

 branches. Leaves opposite, or rarely 3-nate, exstipulate, 

 entire. Flowers in racemes, hermaphrodite. Calyx, 5-parted, 

 bell-shaped. Petals, 5, fleshy, with a prominent ridge inter- 

 nally. Stamens, 10, arising from beneath the ovary, which 



consists of 5-10 carpels arranged obliquely ii])on a thickened 

 receptacle. Stigmas, 5. Ovules, solitary, pendulous, inverted. 

 Fruit, of 5-8, small, crustaceous, indehiscent achcnes, con- 

 cealed by the membranous sepals and fleshy petals. — Ed. 

 Art Album New Zealand Flora. 



Description, etc. — A genus of shrubs and herbs, of rather uncertain position, made 

 to constitute a distinct family, under the name of Conariea\ New Zealand is repre- 

 sented by three species, viz. : — (1.) C. ruscifolia, a perennial shrub with leaves one to 

 three inches long ; (2.) C. thymifolia, a small annual, with leaves ovate or lanceolate, 

 from one-quarter to one inch long ; and (3.) C. angtjstissima, a herbaceous annual, 

 with leaves narrow-linear, lanceolate, one-quarter-of-an-inch long. 



1. COEIARIA RUSCIFOLIA (Lvm.) The Ruscus-leaved Coriaria. 



Specific Chaeactee. — A perennial slirub, 10-18 ffc. high ; 

 trunk, 6-8 in. diam. ; branches often long and flexuose. 

 Leaves oblong, or obovate, acuminate or acute, 3-5-nerved, 

 sessile or shortly-petioled. Racemes 8-12 in. long, drooping, 



many-flowered, pubescent; pedicles, ^ in., slender, bracteolate 

 at the base. Flowers, --} in. diam., green. Anthers, iu some 

 flowers, imperfect. Petals full of purple juice when the fruit 

 is ripe. — Handbook of the New Zealand Flora, p. 46. 



Description, etc.— Plate No. 25.— The " TUTU," or " TUPAKIHI."— This well- 

 kno\^ai shrub is abundant throughout both islands, and grows luxuriantly in rich soil, 

 its presence amongst the indigenous vegetation indicating, by its growth, whether the 

 quality of the land be good or otherwise. The general form of the jjlaiit is that of a 

 bush, with long flexible branches growing directly from the root ; but sometimes, though 

 rarely, it assumes the form of a tree, with a trunk five or six feet in height, and from 

 four to six inches in thickness, the branches extending from the crown of the trunk 

 in a graceful drooping manner, producing a very pleasing effect, more especially when 

 the tree is in fruit. Beneath the shade of such an one, the Authors have upon occasions 

 screened themselves from tlie hot glare of the summer's sun. The flowering commences 

 in September, when the long racemes are covered with small greenish red flowers, which 

 grow very quickly, and ultimately iu February and March, develope into the fully- 

 ripened juicy fruit (the so-called fruit being nothing more or less than fleshy petals). 

 The juice of these petals was formerly used l)y the Maoris as a Ijeverage, and was 

 considered rich and wholesome. In preparing it for use, it was carefully strained 

 into calabashes, excluding the seeds, and kept for household consumption. Mixed with 

 their fern-root, it was considered a very delicious accompaniment. A wine similar to 

 elder-berry has been made from the juice by Europeans, and is much esteemed for its 

 flavour and richness. The seeds are poisonous, the noxious principle being in an oil 



