204 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



moniliform. In Clianthus the keel is comparatively large 

 and the standard small. Carmichaelia is remarkable for 

 its strange dehiscence. The pod of Huttonella, and of 

 Notospartium, is indehiscent, whilst the three last mentioned 

 genera, together with the aptly named Corallospartium, are 

 nearly leafless brooms. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Stamens all free. Flowers large, yellow. Sophora, p. 210. 

 Stamens united. 2 



2. Leafless or nearly leafless shrubs. 3 

 Herbs or shrubs with pinnate leaves. 5 



3. Stem yellow* stout, leafless. tCorallospartium. 

 Stems green, often flattened. 4 



4. Flowers pinkish-white, pods indehiscent. tHuttonella. 

 Flowers white, lilac, or variously coloured. 



Valves of seed pods falling away. Carmichaelia, p. 201. 



5. Herbs with pinnate leaves. Flowers blue 



or purple. iSwainsonia. 



Shrubs. Flowers large, scarlet, in drooping 



racemes. Clianthus, p. 210. 



fNot further described. 



Genus Carmicliaelia. 



Shrubs with grooved flattened branches, leafless except in very young plants. 

 Calyx 5-toothed ; wings auricled at the base. Pods 1-12 seeded. A very 

 remarkable genus, peculiar to New Zealand and Lord Howe's Island. The sides 

 or valves of the seed-pod fall away when the fruit is ripe, and the tiny black or 

 scarlet seeds are left hanging by a slender thread from the bare framework of the 

 pod. Flowers solitary, or in racemes or fascicles, white, red or lilac. (Named in 

 honour of the Cryptogamic botanist Carmichael). 19 sp. 



Carmichaelia nan a (The Dwarf Carmichaelia). 



A small, sub-alpine species, about 4 inches in height. Branches thin, flat. 

 Leaves not seen. Flowers red, in.-J in. long. Racemes 2-3 flowered. Pod 

 oblong, in. long, with a short, straight beak. Seeds 2-4, black. Both islands : 

 in hilly districts. Fl. Dec. 



Carmichaelia austral is (The Southern Carmichaelia). 



A much-branched shrub, 3 ft. -9 ft. high. Branches very flat, with distant, 

 alternate notches. Seedling leaves often 3-5-foliolate. Flowers striped lilac, 

 pale or dark, fascicles 3-12-flowered, very fragrant. Pods oblong with a short 

 beak. Seeds 1-4, scarlet. North Island : common. South Island : rare. 

 Fl. Nov. -Dec. 



