124 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Genus Dendrobium. 



Epiphytic herbs, rigid in habit. Leaves, narrow, numerous. Flowers large, 

 usually racemed, rarely solitary. Petals smaller than the sepals. Lip large, 

 3-lobed. Pollen-masses, 4. A large genus, many of whose plants are cultivated 

 for the beauty of their flowers. (Name from the Greek, signifying tree-life, in 

 allusion to the epiphytic habit). 1 sp. 



Dendrobium Cunningham ii (Cunninghams Dendrobium). 



Stems shining, branched, pendulous, 1ft. -2ft. in length. Leaves lin.-lin. 

 long, ^in. broad, pale green, striped. Flowers in short racemes, fin. across, pale 

 rose-coloured. Petals as long as the sepals. Lip with a small claw. Both 

 islands. Fl. Nov. -Feb. 



Genus Boibopliyllum. 



Minute, leathery, epiphytic herbs. Stem matted, bearing small tubers or 

 bulbs, each carrying one or two leaves. Flower solitary or spiked, very similar 

 to Dendrobium. (Name from the Greek, signifying leaf-bulb}. 2 sp. 



Bolbophyllum pygmseum (The Pygmy Bolbophyllum). 



A very minute species. Bulbs no larger than a pea. Leaf solitary, sessile. 

 Flower solitary, minute. Both islands. 



Genus Gasirodia. 



Terrestrial, leafless herbs, with twisted fleshy roots. Stem clothed with 

 brown scales. Flowers drooping, in racemes, brownish white. Petals smaller 

 than the sepals. Pollen-masses, 4. Found only in Australia, New Zealand, 

 Tasmania, and the Indian Islands. (Name from the Greek, signifying pot- 

 bellied}. 



Gastrodia Cunninghamii (Cunninghams Gastrodia). 



A curious plant, 2ft. in height, with a thick, starchy root-stock, which was 

 sometimes used as food by the natives. Flowers, 10-20 upon a spike, dirty-green, 

 spotted with white, aromatic but unpleasant. Not uncommon in damp bush in 

 both islands. Fl. Dec. -Feb. 3 sp. 



Genus Acianthus. 



Slender herbs, with tuberous roots, and one single heart-shaped leaf. 

 Flowers large for the size of the plant, green or brown. Pollen-masses 8. (Name 

 from the Greek signifying pointed-flower) . 1 sp. 



Acianthus Sinclair!! (Sinclair's Acianthus). 



A tiny, transparent-looking plant, with small greenish-white flowers, two to 

 six in a raceme. Leaf deeply two-lobed at the base. Both islands. Fl. Aug. 



