Gunnera.] XXVIII. HAliORAGEAE. 153 



linear-oblongj obtuse ; female perianth-segments 4, ovate, unequal, sometimes 



with 2 liner-oblong bracts at the base. Hermaphrodite flowers with 3 ovate 



segments. Filaments short ; anthers apparently abortive. Fruit not seen. — 



G. ovata, Petrie in Trans. N.Z.I, xxv. (1892) 274! (in part). 



SOUTH Island : Ofcago, Buchanan I A. Hamilton I Petrie I 



A curious plant, resembling a small state of O. prorepens, but distinguished by the simple lax 

 subraoemose scape. The flowers may be either male or female primarily, but in either case one or 

 two of the complementary form and one or two hermaphrodite will be found on each rhaehis. 

 More copious material is required for a satisfactory diagnosis. 



3. G. microcarpa, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z.I, xxvii. (1894) 348. Rhi- 

 zomes slender, tufted. Leaves 2in.— 4in. long, slender, hairy or strigose ; blade 

 about lin. long, broadly ovate or ovate-cordate, with scattered hairs on both 

 surfaces, crenate or crenate-lobed. Flowering-spike or raceme lax, interrupted, 

 monoecious. Male : sessile or shortly pedicelled, with two linear concave 

 fringed obtuse bracts at the base ; perianth -lobes 2 ; stamens 2, equalling the 

 bracts ; filaments broad at the base ; anthers compressed, broadly oblong ; 

 connective apiculate. Female : flowers few, trichotomous ; perianth 2-lobed. 

 Fruiting-scapes lin.— l^in. long, weak, almost filiform, hidden amongst the 

 leaves. Bracts linear, ciliate at the apex. Styles filiform. Drupes sessile, 

 erect, about the size of mustard seeds, yellow or red. 



SOUTH Island: Southland, T. TFaagf/i/ Dec. 



■My flowering specimens are few and imperfect, while their identity with the fruiting speci- 

 mens is not absolutely proved. The fruiting-scapes are sometimes slightly branched at the base. 

 The plant diflers from O. prorepens in the weak flexuous scapes, minute drupes, and filiform styles. 



4. G. prorepens, Hook. /., Fl. N.Z. i. 66. Rhizomes rather stout. 

 Leaves 3in.— 5in. long, ovate or ovate-oblong or rarely elliptic, more or less 

 clothed with scattered hairs ; petioles strigose or hairy. ■ Scapes much shorter 

 than the petioles, wholly hidden amongst the leaves, strigose, stout, unisexual. 

 Male flowers not seen. Female : perianth-segments 4, linear-obovate, obtuse, 

 concave, cucuUate ; styles short, stout, slightly compressed. Drupes sessile or 

 very shortly pedicelled, forming a compact spike less than lin. in length, 

 broadly obconic, with a shallow groove at the apex, red. — Hook, f., Handbk. 

 68 ; DC, Prod. xvi. ii. 599. 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands; STEWART Island : from Taupo southward. 



The short stout spike and broadly obconic drupes distinguish this species from all others, 

 although several exhibit similar leaves. 



5. G. flavida, Col. in Trans. N.Z.I, xviii. (1885) 261. Densely tufted. 

 Rhizomes rather stout. Leaves lin.— 4iu. long; blades ovate or slightly ovate- 

 cordate, rarely elliptic, rounded at the apex ; margins entire or slightly sinuate, 

 or rarely crenate at base, glabrous or with few weak hairs on petiole ; petioles 

 and peduncles red. Scapes unisexual, lin.-4in. long, usually exceeding the 

 leaves when in fruit. Male flowers not seen. Female : perianth-segments 4, 

 the two innermost ovate or oblong, ciliate at the apex ; outer larger, obovate, 

 cucullate, deciduous. Drupes obconic, sessile or shortly pedicellate, crimson 



20 



