154. XXVIII. HALOEAGEAE. \Gunnera. 



or lemon-coloured, forming a lax spike, sometimes 2iii. long, overtopping the 

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

 only). G. elongata, T. Kirk, MSS. 



NORTH Island : (collected by H. Hill) Golenso I Probably not uncommon in the Taupo 

 district. SOUTH Island : Otago and Southland. STEWART Island, T. K. 



Frequent amongst sphagnum. The fruits are often glaucous. Easily recognised by the red 

 petioles and peduncles, and especially by the obconic fruits, which are elevated above the leaves. 

 I am indebted to the Rev. W. Golenso for one of his type specimens. 



6. G. dentata, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z.I, xxvii. (1894) 346. Rhizomes 

 rather stout, tufted. Leaves lin.— 2in. long or more ; petioles hairy or strigose 

 at base ; blade ^in. long or less, membranous, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, acute, 

 with scattered hairs on both surfaces or nearly glabrous ; margins dentate. 

 Scapes unisexual. Male : very slender, slightly exceeding the leaves ; flowers 

 sessile ; perianth -segments linear -oblong, cucuUate ; anthers broad, obtuse. 

 Female : about 4in. long, hidden amongst the leaves, silky at the base, spike 

 iin. long ; perianth-segments 2, broadly oblong, obtuse ; style very long, stout, 

 much compressed at the base ; scape either elongating in fruit, lin.— 2in. high, 

 lax, or sessile, short and compact. Drupes sessile or on stout pedicels, clavate, 

 patent or pendulous. — G. prorepens, /3, Hook, f., Haudbk. 68. 



NORTH Island : Colmso (in Handbk.). Taupo, Petrie ! SOUTH Island : Nelson to South- 

 land, but often local. 1,000ft. to 3,000ft. 



7. G. densiflora, Hook. /., tiandbk. 68. Rhizome rather stout, tufted. 

 Leaves lin.— l^in. long ; petiole as long as the blade, strict, strigose, villous or 

 glabrescent ; blade iin.— lin. in diameter, orbicular or orbicular-ovate, cordate, 

 doubly serrate ; teeth acute. Scapes unisexual. Male not seen. Female : 

 iin.— fin. long; peduncle short, stout, villous; flowers sessile or subsessile, 

 crowded; ovary narrow-oblong ; perianth-lobes subulate, acute ; bracts subulate ; 

 styles 2, spreading. Fruiting-scape shorter than the kaves. Drupes linear- 

 oblong, j'jjin. long, pendulous, purple. 



SOUTH Island : Acheron and Clarence Rivers, 4,000ft., Travers in Handbk. Craigieburn 

 Mountains, Canterbury, 3,500ft., Cockayne ! 



The description must remain imperfect until more copious material can be obtained ; but the 

 species is easily distinguished by the acutely-toothed leaves and pendulous purple fruits. 



8. G. arenaria, Cheesm. ex T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z.I, xxvii. 348. Rhi- 

 zomes slender or stout, tufted. Whole plant rather fleshy, glabrous or glabrate, 

 with thin flattened hairs on the petiole. Leaves lin.- 2in. long ; blade ovate or 

 ovate-cuneate or almost cordate, crenate or crenate-dentate ; petioles sheathing 

 at the base. Scapes unisexual, dimorphic. Male : in the early spring slender, 

 exceeding the leaves, lin.-l^in. long; anthers 2, nearly orbicular, sessile, with 

 one or two narrow-linear fimbriate bracts at the base of each flower. Female : 

 very short, hidden amongst the leaves ; spike Jin. -gin. long, dense ; perianth 

 2-lobed, lobes minute, acute; styles rather stout, spreading, attenuated to the 

 apex. Drupes hidden amongst the leaves, crowded, sessile or on verv short 



