46 



IV. YIOLAEIEAE. 



[ Hymenanthera . 



Sepals coherent at the base, narrow- ovate. Petals very long, obovate with a 



broad base, revolute at the apex. Anthers with a narrow lanceolate jagged 



connective, more than half as long as the anther-cells ; dorsal gland cuneate- 



spathulate, rounded above. Female flowers not seen. Berry ovoid or almost 



globose, white, 4- rarely 3-seeded. Stigmas 4-lobed. Seeds angled, curved 



towards the point, convex on the outer surface ; strophiole very small. — H. 



latifolia, var. Chathamica, F. Muell., Veg. Chat. Isds. 9. 



NORTH Island: Wellington: Patea, Hector! (flowers and fruit not seen). CHATHAM 

 Islands: originally discovered by Captain Gilbert Mair. Mahoe. Sept., Got. 



Distinguished from all other species by the long lanceolate sharply-toothed leaves, strictly 

 dioecious flowers, tetramerous stigma-lobes, and 4-seeded berries. Occasionally the leaves are linear- 

 lanceolate and less than Jin. in breadth. 



Oedee V.-PITTOSPOREAE. 



Flowers regular, perfect, rarely unisexual. Sepals 5, imbricate. Petals 5, 



imbricate, the base narrowed into a claw, forming a tube, the limb recurved or 



spreading. Stamens 5, hypogynous, free. Ovary 1-celIed or imperfectly 



2— 5-celled, with 2—5 parietal placentas. Styles simple ; stigmas 2— 5-lobed. 



Ovules in 2 rows on each placenta. Fruit a capsule or berry. Seeds usually 



several in each cell. Endosperm hard. Embryo next the hilum, minute. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees. 



A small order, all the genera of "which, except Pittosponim, are restricted to Australia. 

 Geneea,' 9. Species, 110. 



1. PITTOSPORUM, Banks. 



Sepals 5, free. Petals 5, free, connivent at their base, usually recurved. 



Stamens pentandrous. Ovary sessile or rarely stipitate, 1 -celled or imperfectly 



2— 5-celled, silky. Capsule globose obovate or oblong, with 2—5 woody valves. 



Seeds globular or angled, immersed in a viscous fluid. Shrubs or trees with 



entire exstipulate often whorled leaves and branches. 



Species, about 70, distributed through Africa and the warmer parts of Asia, the Pacific 

 Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. The genus is more largely developed in the North Island 

 than elsewhere. AH the New Zealand species are endemic. 



Etym. Prom the Greek, signifying pitch, and a seed, in allusion to the viscid secretion in 

 which the seeds are immersed. 



A. Flowers axillary, solitary, rarely fascicled and terminal. Pedunc, 



Leaves oblong, lin.-l^in. long. Capsule 3-valved 



Leaves oblong, coriaceous. Flowers solitary or fascicled 



Leaves elliptic-oblong, subcoriaceous, 2in.-5in. long 



Leaves broadly oblong, 2in.-5in. long. Capsule 3-valved 



Leaves broadly obovate, rounded. Flowers solitary or fascicled. Capful 

 terminal 



Leaves small, rounded or oboordate . . 



Leaves small, narrow-obovate, lobed or entire . . 



B. Flowers in terminal umbels or fascicles 

 Leaves narrow linear-acuminate or linear-oblong 

 Leaves narrow-obovate, whorled. Epiphytic . . 

 Leaves narrow linear-obovate. Capsules elliptic, large 

 Leaves broadly lanceolate-oblong. Capsules 4-lobed 



'.es very short, except in 4. 



1. P. tenuifolium. 

 var. fasciculatum. 



2. P. Buchanani. 



3. P. B.uttonianu')n. 



4. P. intermedittm. 



5. P. obcordatum. 



6. P. rigidum. 



1. P. pimeleoides. 



8. P. cornifolium. 



9. P. Kirkii. 

 10, P, umhellatum. 



