56 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



117. Tree. Flowers unisexual. Stamens on the 



perianth segments. PEOTEACEAE, p. 145. 



118. Leaves reduced to scales. Root parasite. Dactylanthus, p. 150. 

 Leaves present. 119. 



119. Leaves opposite. 120. 

 Leaves alternate. 121. 



120. Leaves serrate, stipulate. ^Ascarina. 

 Water-herb, leaves exstipulate. Stamen 1. \Callitriclie. 



121. Herbs, leaves fleshy. Peperomia, p. 127. 

 Shrub, leaves very aromatic. Macropiper, p. 128. 



An example or two of the method of using this key will 

 probably be of assistance to the novice. He has found, let us 

 suppose, an unknown plant which from its venation and 

 general appearance he recognizes as a dicotyledon. It will be 

 useless in most cases to try and identify it without the flower, 

 and frequently specimens also of more or less mature fruit will 

 be required. The first thing to notice is whether both calyx 

 or corolla are present. This being determined in the 

 affirmative, the student is directed to No. 2 in the Key. On 

 ascertaining that the petals are free he passes to No. 3. In 

 this flower the stamens are less than 20, this brings him 

 to No. 12. At this point he decides the ovary is inferior and 

 so passes on to No. 13. As the flowers are not in umbels or 

 heads, he proceeds to No. 15. His plant has exstipulate 

 leaves, and this brings him to No. 16. The simple style and 

 stigma lead to No. 17, and the stamens alternating with the 

 petals to No. 18, thence to No. 19 ; and as the cells of the 

 ovary in his specimen are many seeded, he concludes that it 

 belongs to the family Saxifragaceae. On looking this up, he finds 

 a key to the genera. This he follows out in a similar 

 manner, and arrives at the Genus Carpodetus. There is- 

 only one species, C. serratus, and in all probability he will 

 find his specimen coincide in detail with the description given 

 of this. Let us take one more example. In this case the 

 plant has the petals united. That leads us to No. 50, and as 

 the ovary is superior, we come to No. 56. The corolla of our 



tNot further described. 



