340 XXXVIII. RUBIACEAE. [^Coprosma. 



Var. pendula (sp.), Col., I.e. xxi. 84. Branches very slender, distant, divaricating at right 

 angles. Leaves distant, broadly ovate-orbicular, abruptly narrowed into the short petiole, sub- 

 coriaceous. 



NORTH Island : Hawke's Bay, Golenso ! SOUTH Island : Nelson : Wairoa Gorge, Bryant 

 and ffirfc. Otago : East Coast, Dunedin, and Catlin's River, Petrie! Yai. pendula, 'R&vi^e's Bay, 

 Golenso ! 



Closely related to C. crassifolia, Col., var. pendula, forming a connecting-link between the 

 two. Best distinguished by the thin membranous leaves, which are destitute of a thickened margin, 

 and the smaller flowers. 



36. C. virescens, Petrie, I.e. xi. 436. A glabrous much-branched 

 bush or small shrub, 5ft.— 10ft. high. Branches very slender, flexuose, divari- 

 cating, interlaced. Bark pale-brown or white, slightly furrowed. Leaves ^in.— 

 Jin. long, membranous, green, spathulate, obtuse or subacute, margins often 

 slightly sinuate, narrowed into a short slender petiole. Stipules minute, sub- 

 acute, ciliolate. Flowers solitary or in 3— 4-flowered fascicles, involucellate. 

 Male : calyx ; corolla iin. long, campanulate, 4-partite nearly to the base ; 

 stamens 4 ; anthers broadly oblong, short. Female : calyx-limb obscurely 

 4-toothed ; corolla shorter than in the male, tubular, deeply 4-toothed, teeth 

 acute, spreading, but not revolute. Drupe oblong, yellowish-white, translucent, 

 iin. long. — Cheesem., I.e. xix. 344. 



NORTH Island : Wellington : Wairarapa, Colenso in Herb. Kew. No. 333, on the authority of 

 Mr. N. E. Brown. SOUTH Island: Marlborough: Pelorus Sound, J. Rutland ! Nelson: Wairoa 

 Gorge, Bryant and Kirk. Canterbury : Lake Por.syth, T. K. Otago : widely spread from Otepopo 

 to the lake district and Catlin's River, but local, Petrie ! Ascends to 1,500ft. Originally discovered 

 by Golenso. 



Most nearly related to G. acerosa, but easily recognised by the slender strict branches, pale 

 bark, and very small spathulate leaves with uneven margins. The female flowers are erect and 

 closely parallel with the branchlets, often presenting a curious appearance. 



37. C. acerosa, A. Cunn., Preeurs. n. 477. Prostrate or suberect, 1ft.- 

 4ft. high, much branched. Branches straight or flexuous or zigzag, often inter- 

 laced. Young branchlets puberulous. Bark yellowish-brown or dark-brown, 

 often twisted. Leaves in opposite pairs or 3— 5-leaved fascicles, uniform, iin.— 

 fin. long, 2^in.— jijin. broad, very narrow-linear, erecto-patent, obtuse or sub- 

 acute ; veins obscure. Stipules shortly sheathing, puberulous or ciliolate. 

 Flowers apparently axillary but really terminating minute branchlets, involu- 

 cellate. Male ; solitary or in 3-4-flowered fascicles ; calyx ; corolla cam- 

 panulate, 4-cleft to below the middle, ^in. long ; stamens 4. Female : solitary; 

 calyx-limb minutely 4-toothed; corolla J^in.-jLin, long, narrow, tubular, 

 shortly 4-lobed. Drupe spherical or shortly oblong, Jin.— Jin. long, white or 

 pale-blue, translucent. — Hook, f., Fl. N.Z. i. 109; Handbk. 118; Raoul, Enum. 

 PL N.Z. 46 ; Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z.I, xix. 244. Pelaphia acerosa, Banks 

 and Sol. MSS. 



Two prevailing forms may be distinguished, though closely connected by intermediates, as 

 follows : — 



(1) arenarla. Branches numerous, with yellowish-brown bark, slender, flexuous, spreading, 

 and closely interlaced. Leaves numerous, very narrow-linear, close-set. Drupe rarely exceeding 

 Jin. long, white, translucent.^ 



