192 



PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Petals 4 or 5, broad at the base and narrowing to a long point. Sepals 5, 

 very narrow, pale-green. Leaves bright green, coriaceous in the older stage, 

 beautifully veined on the under surface. Capsule 3-valved ; valves of a brilliant 

 orange colour on the inside. North Island chiefly. South Island : Pelorus 

 Sound, and Titi Island. Fl. Sept. 



Pittosporum cornifolium, though possessed of rather insig- 

 nificant flowers of a dull purple, has very showy seeds. These, 



Fig. 57. Pittosporum Kirkii Flower ( nat. size). 



as in other plants of the genus, are imbedded in gluten, which, 

 in this case, is of a yellow colour. The seeds themselves are 

 blackish purple, and when the capsule opens, it discloses the 

 inner side of the valves, which are of a bright orange. The 

 combination of colours is very striking. It is probably in- 

 tended to attract birds, but, apparently, no investigation has 

 been made to ascertain whether the seeds pass uninjured 



