Hedera.] xxxv. abaliaceae. 223 



5. P. Chathamicum, n. s. A small tree, 20ft.-25ft. high. Branches 

 stout. Leaves never deflexed, all simple, dimorphic ; in the unbranched state 

 2in.— 6in. long, fin.— Ijin. broad, lanceolate or oblong, narrowed into the short 

 petiole, usually acute, coarsely or finely toothed above, membranous or sub- 

 coriaceous ; in the mature state 5in.— 7in. long, coriaceous, linear-obovate or 

 oblanceolate, gradually narrowed into the short winged petiole, subacute, obtuse, 

 or truncate at the apex, obscurely sinuate-dentate or with 2—3 coarse teeth at 

 the apex. Umbels terminal, sessile : male very large, of 6-10 primary rays, 

 each with 5—8 slender secondary rays 2in.— Sin. long, carrying crowded racemose 

 flowers often mixed with small umbels ; calyx-limb obsolete ; petals 4 ; sta- 

 mens 4 ; female umbels sessile, simple ; rays 3—7, very slender, subequal, 2in.— 

 4in. long, forming terminal 6— 10-fruited umbels, with or without a few race- 

 mose fruits below. Fruits globose when fully ripe, large, 5-celled, 5-seeded. 

 Styles forming a short truncate column. 



CHATHAM Islands : Enys I (March, 1891), Oox ! Hoho. Feb. 



Distinguislied from P. crassifolium and P. ferox by the absence of deflexed leaves, the simple 

 female umbels, and globose fruits with truncate styles. 



I am greatly indebted to my friend Mr. Oox for specimens of this curious species, and greatly 

 regret that my diagnosis is still imperfect. 



fTvsro specimens of what appears to be another species may be briefly described : Branohlets 

 stout. Leaves excessively coriaceous, quite entire, 3in.-4in. long, lin. broad or more, linear-oblong, 

 gradually narrowed into a short petiole, acute or apiculate. Male umbels simple ; rays 5-8, lin.- 

 IJin. long ; pedicels 1-5, exceeding the flowers. Petals 4, inflexed at the tips. Stamens 4. Should 

 better specimens prove this to be distinct it might be named P, apiculatum. CHATHAM Islands : 

 Cox !] 



' HEDERA, Linn. 



Calyx entire or 4-5-toothed, superior. Petals and stamens 5-10, free. Ovary 

 5-celled ; styles 5-10, connate or connivent ; stigmas terminal. Berry subglobose, 

 5-celled, 5-seeded. Seed invested by a thin cartilaginous endocarp. Endosperm 

 fleshy, ruminate. Shrubs, climbing by clasping rootlets. Leaves alternate, exstipu- 

 late, simple, lobed. Umbels simple. Flowers polygamous. 



* H. Helix, L., Sp. PI. 202. A climbing shrub, ascending the loftiest trees. 

 Trunk sometimes 1ft. in diameter. Lower leaves lin.-4in. broad, 5-lobed, cordate ; 

 of flowering-braaches ovate or ovate-oblong, acute, entire. Umbels simple or sub- 

 racemose, erect, finely pubescent or downy ; bracts minute. Berry black. 



NORTH Island: on the sites of daiertad gardens in several localities, but not naturalised. 

 Ivy. April, May. Europe. 



Oedee XXXVI.-OOENAOEAE. 



Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary ; teeth 4 or 5, or 0. Petals 4 or 5, 

 rarely 0, valvate. Stamens as many or twice as many as the petals, inserted 

 at the base of an epigynous disk. Ovary inferior, 1— 2-celled, with 1 anatropous 

 ovule in each cell ; style very short or connate at the base, with recurved stigmas 

 or stigma capitate ; ovules usually solitary, 1 in each cell, pendulous or 3 from 

 the apex of a column in a 1-celled ovary. Fruit an indehiscent drupe. Testa 

 thin ; endosperm fleshy ; embryo minute. Shrubs or trees, rarely herbs, with 

 opposite or alternate entire exstipulate leaves and regular hermaphrodite or 

 unisexual flowers in axillary or terminal cymes or panicles. 



