25^ Transactions. — Botany. 



Nat. Ord. Ehamne^, 



Our only local representative is the abundant Discaria toumatou. Tlie 

 flowers of this plant are small, green, and hermaphrodite, and produced in 

 considerable numbers along the under-side of the branches. Though incon- 

 spicuous, I believe they are chiefly or altogether insect-fertilized. Their 

 fragrance is overpoweringly strong, and they produce a very large quantity 

 of honey, besides which the stamens mature a little before the stigma. 



Nat. Ord. Coeiaeie^. 



All three species of Coriaria are common in the neighbourhood of 

 Dunedin (C angustissima at elevations of about 2,000 feet), and their mode 

 of fertilization is extremely interesting. According to the " Handbook of 

 the N.Z. Flora," the flowers of the genus are hermaphrodite, but in at least 

 two of our species they are polygamous. They are all anemophilous. 



C. riiscifolia appears always to be hermaphrodite. The flowers are very 

 markedly proterogynous, the stigmas withering completely before the anthers 

 dehisce. The flowers are produced in great abundance, but are green, 

 small, and destitute of honey or scent. (The green colour is to a consider- 

 able extent relieved by red in the first stage of flowering, when the stigmas 

 are expanded). The stigmas are relatively large and very papillose, and 

 protrude to a considerable extent. When the stamens are mature, the 

 anthers dangl.e out at the end of very slender filaments, while the pollen is 

 very light and incoherent. 



C. thymifolia and C. angustissima agree almost exactly in their flowers. 

 These are sometimes hermaphrodite in structure as in C. ruscifolia, in which 

 case they are as distinctly proterogynous. But more frequently the parts 

 are more or less wanting, so that we find truly male and truly female 

 flowers, with every intermediate stage to complete hermaphroditism. 



Altogether it seems unlikely that they are visited by insects, but every- 

 thing points to their being fertilized by the wind. 

 Nat. Ord. LEGUMiNoSiE. 



Out of the nine species of CarmichcBlia, described in the " Handbook of 

 the N.Z. Flora," I have only examined C. fiagelliformis. The flowers are 

 very distinctly marked, but, being small and isolated, are not conspicuous. 

 They are, however, very fragrant, and contain quite a considerable amount 

 of honey. The anthers dehisce as soon as the flowers open. 



Clianthus funiceus. This beautiful flower is only found in cultivation in 

 the South Island, and seems to be chiefly fertilized by birds (tuis, kori- 

 makos, etc.) The extremity of the style generally protrudes from the flower 

 before it fully expands ; only the tip of it is stigmatic, and it is fiu-nished on 

 its lower (outer) side with a brush of hairs. The anthers dehisce before the 

 flowers open, and, as the latter are pendulous, the pollen falls down 



