190 



Flowers yellow. We have noticed it growing upon small trees of Fagus 

 Cliffortioides, in a shrubbery where the soil was both cold and stiff, and that 

 too in a situation much exposed to heavy winds. 



Loranthus ')nicranthus, Hook. f. A fast growing parasite found on a 

 variety of plants, introduced as well as native ; amongst the former we have 

 observed specimens attached to Cratcegus, plum, peach, and laburnum, this 

 species thus ranging over, and as we conceive showing a preference for, species 

 belonging to the foreign natural orders Fomacece, Drupacece, Fahacece. Our 

 opinion that this species of Loranthus exhibits a preference for introduced 

 trees, is founded on the following observations : — in this neighbourhood it may 

 be found gi'owing in the bushy gullies, and in the bush itself, on trees of 

 Melicytus ramifiorus and Melicope simiplex, representatives of Violarice and 

 Rutacece ; in the shrubberies which impinge upon and partly boimd the gardens, 

 plants of the two native species just named do not exhibit one single specimen 

 of Loranthus, nor on any native tree is an example of this particular kind of 

 pax'asite to be found, nearer than about half a mile's distance, in a bushy gully, 

 yet specimens may be noticed in the garden flourishing on representatives of 

 the thi-ee foreign natural orders before mentioned. On the laburnum the 

 Loranthus appears to grow quite luxuriantly, a plant now four years old, the 

 beautiful green ovate leaves of which form a thick-set bush measuring 4 feet 

 through, vertically, by 3 feet 6 inches through, horizontally ; a specimen on a 

 Cratcegus of the same age, measures 1 foot through, vertically, by about the 

 same measurement horizontally. Both laburnum and thorn were removed two 

 years since, in the course of some alterations, without causing the slightest 

 apparent injury to their parasites. In October the green blossoms of the 

 Loranthus are abundantly produced, yielding a very delicate perfume ; the 

 yellow drupe is a favourite bird food. 



Tupeia antarctica, Cham, and Schl. By the sea shore, in some places about 

 Port Coopei-, dense clusters or bushes of this pale green parasite may be 

 observed, perhaps more frequently on trees of Panax Colensoi than on any 

 other shrub ; however, it is now and then to be met with growing on Loran- 

 thus micranthus ; it is later in its season of flowering than that Loranthus ; 

 the berry is green, afterwards white, and at last changes to a rosy hue. 



EUBIACE^. 



We have ten or twelve species of Coprosma under cultivation, of which 

 one of the most hardy and interesting is the new sub-alpine species C. seratulus, 

 Hook., which has been added to our flora by Dr. Hector since the publication 

 of the Handbook. 



Coprosma lucida, Forst. A small tree or shrub, with bright shining very 

 dark leaves, well adapted for a screen ; it bears close pruning ; tolerably hardy. 

 Flowers in October. 



