102 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



glass they resemble small bottle-brushes, covered with orange or pink bristles. 

 Northern Island and Nelson, growing profusely upon rocky cliffs. PL Nov. -Dec. 

 (Name in allusion to the brush-like filaments.) Usually known as the Rock Lily. 



Arthropod ium candidum (The White Arthropodium) . 



A much smaller plant, usually Tin. or Sin. in height, with soft, grass-like 

 leaves. Flower-stem very slender; flowers white, Jin. across, with recurved 

 petals. Open ground, both islands. Fl. Jan. -Feb. 



Genus Bulbinella. 



Herbs, with fibrous or bulbous roots. A large genus, found in all temperate 

 climates. Leaves from the root, long and narrow. Flowers in racemes. 

 Perianth of 6 leaflets ; stamens 6 ; filaments of stamens bearded. Fruit a 

 capsule ; seeds black. 2 sp. 



Bulbinella Rossi i (Ross's Bulbinella.) 



A tall, sturdy plant, sometimes reaching 4ft. in height. Stem very thick ; 

 leaves 8 in. -16 in. long, recurved. Flowers yellow, asphodel-like, in. across. 

 This plant is abundant in the Auckland and Campbell Islands, while the 

 smaller species, Bulbinella Hookeri, is found in lowland and sub-alpine 

 pastures in both the Northern and Southern Islands of New Zealand. The 

 flowers are as large as in the former species, but the leaves and the whole plant 

 are smaller. It is frequently at least in the Southern part of New Zealand 

 known as the Maori Onion. In some places a whole mountain side may be seen 

 covered with a blaze of yellow from the presence of myriads of racemes of this 

 plant. Fl. Oct. -Dec. 



Genus Phormium. 



Large, tufted, perennial herbs, with fibrous roots, and long, radical, linear 

 leaves. Flowers in large panicles. Perianth of 6 leaflets, tubular, red, or yellow. 

 Stamens 6, longer than the petals. Fruit a long capsule, many seeded. A 

 genus of two species, both endemic. (Name from the Greek for a basket, in 

 allusion to the use of the leaves by the Maoris in basket-making). Maori name, 

 Harakeke. 



Phormium tenax (The New Zealand Flax, or Flax-Lily). 



This is a remarkable species, peculiar to New Zealand and 

 Norfolk Island. Like the cabbage- tree, it forms a distinct and 

 unmistakeable feature of the New Zealand landscape. It is 

 totally unlike the flax-plant known to Europeans, though the 

 two may be compared in the strength and usefulness of their 

 fibres. The Linaceae (Flax Tribe) constitute a family in 



