Coprosma.] XXXVIII. rubiaceae. 239 



23. C. rigida, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z.I, xix. 243. An erect shrub, with 

 spreading branches, 5ft.— 15ft. high. Branches divaricating hut rarely at right 

 angles, often interlaced ; young branches puberulous. Bark red or reddish- 

 brown, often furrowed. Leaves iin.— fin. long, mostly on short arrested branch- 

 lets, coriaceous or nearly membranous, obovate or oblong-spathulate, rounded or 

 retuse, narrowed into the short petiole ; veins obscurely reticulated. Stipules 

 loosely sheathing, deltoid, glabrous. Flowers involucellate, solitary or in 

 2— 3-flowered fascicles. Male : calyx ; corolla campanulate, deeply 4— 5-cleft. 

 Female : calyx-limb minutely 4-5-toothed ; corolla shorter than in the male, 

 tubular, 3— o-lobed, lobes spreading but not revolute. Drupe broadly oblong, 

 orange-yellow, ^in. long. — C. divaricata, Hook. f. in Fl. N.Z. i. 107 (in part). 



NORTH and SOUTH Islands : not uncommon in swampy lowland forests, but often local ; 

 most plentiful in the North Island. Sept., Oct. 



Nearly related to the preceding, from which it is distingaished by the ascending branches, red 

 bark, more membranous leaves, and broader fruit. 



24. C. Buchanani, T. Kirk in Tram. N.Z.I, xxiv. (1891) 424. A much- 

 branched shrub, 5ft.— 10ft. high. Branches opposite, ascending. Bark reddish- 

 grey, papery. Young branchlets puberulous or pubescent. Leaves distant, 

 im.— lin. long, puberulous and minutely ciliate when young, subcoriaceous. 

 obovate or oblong-ovate, rounded or minutely apiculate, narrowed into a short 

 puberulous petiole ; margins slightly thickened. Stipules broadly deltoid, 

 puberulous or minutely ciliate. Male flowers not seen. Female : axillary, 

 solitary, involucellate ; calyx-limb 4-5-toothed, teeth very short and broad, 

 acute; corolla narrow-cam pan ulate, 4— 5-cleft half-way down; segments acute, 

 shortly recurved. Stigmas very robust, tapered towards the base. Fruit 

 unknown. 



NORTH Island : Cape Terawhiti, T. E. Oct. 



In the absence of the male flowers and the fruit of this rare species its true affinities cannot 

 be determined ; it is, however, related to 0, rigida, but differs in the more erect branches, in the 

 larger pubescent more distant leaves, and especially in the stouter styles, which are curiously 

 tapered at the base. Specimens sent to Kew were doubtfully referred to G. petiolata, Hook, f . 



25. C. rubra, Petrie in Trans. N.Z.I, xvii. (1884) 269. Erect, forming 

 a much-branched lax Of close bush or shrub, 5ft.— 10ft. high. Branches slender, 

 divaricating or ascending. Bark usually reddish-brown. Young branchlets 

 puberulous. Leaves membranous or subcoriaceous, iin.— lin. long, iin.— iin. 

 wide, oblong or broadly oblong-obovate or almost orbicular, subacute, rounded 

 or minutely apiculate, suddenly narrowed into long or short petioles, which are 

 often puberulous or ciUolate ; veins obscurely reticulate. Flowers axillary, 

 solitary or in 2— 4-flowered fascicles, on very short abortive branchlets, sessile or 

 shortly pedicellate, involucellate. Male : calyx ; corolla iin. long, campanu- 

 late, 4-partite ; segments acute. Female : calyx-limb minutely 4-toothed ; 

 corolla narrow, tubular, 4-lobed. Drupe oblong, iin. long, yellowish-white, 

 translucent. — Cheesem., I.e. xix. 243. C. divaricata, yar. latifolia, Hook, f., 

 Fl. N.Z. i. 107. C. lentissima, Col. in Trans. N.Z.I. xxij. 465, 



