THE BORAGE FAMILY 347 



Genus Myosotidium. 



Large fleshy herbs, 1 ft. -3 ft. in height. Leaves large, ovate, parallel-veined. 

 Flowers regular, in dense 1-sided racemes. Calyx 5-lobed ; corolla 5-lobed ; 

 throat closed with 5 swellings. Stamens 5. Fruit large, 4-angled, winged. Isp. 



Myosotidium nobile (The Chatham Island Lily). 

 Leaves thick and shining, bright green. Flowers in a dense head, 2 in. -5 in. 

 across. Corolla in.-$in. broad, azure blue, with purple eye. Fruit the size of 

 a hazel nut. Chatham Islands only. 



It is remarkable how many of our large-leaved plants are 

 to be found only on the off-islands. Amongst such may be 

 mentioned Meryta Sinclairii of the Northern Islands, 

 Stilbocarpa polaris, Ligusticum latifolium, Pleuroplnjllum 

 speciosum of the Southern Islands, and Myosotidium of 

 the Chatham Islands. Other species, with leaves of more 

 than average dimensions found chiefly in the Southern 

 Islands, are Olearia Lyallii and Stilbocarpa Lyallii. 



Myosotidium is one of the noblest species in the flora, but' is 

 fast becoming extinct in its original home. It soon disappears 

 wherever stock are running, and is now scarcely to be found 

 anywhere, except at the foot of cliffs, and in similar inac- 

 cessible positions. At one time it was mistakenly supposed 

 to be found upon the Snares, as well ; but it is probable that 

 Stilbocarpa Lyallii seen from a distance, was mistaken for it. 



As most of these large-leaved forms have probably at some 

 time been more widely distributed (v. Stilbocarpa polaris, p. 301) 

 it would seem that on the New Zealand mainland, such 

 plants are in some way at a disadvantage in the struggle for 

 existence. .There are no herbaceous plants in the north or 

 South Island, amongst the dicotyledons, with leaves as large 

 and handsome as those of Myosotidium. Amongst the most 

 conspicuously large-leaved forms are Colensoa, Ranunculus 

 Lyallii, and allied species of buttercup. There are, however, 

 two or three shrubs or small trees in the North Island, 

 (Brachy glottis rangiora, and Pisonia Brunoniana), and one in 

 the South, (Senecio Hectori), with leaves that reach a foot or 



