10'2 PLANTS OP K]':W ZEALAND 



gUiiSS they reseniljle small bottle-brushes, covered with orange or pink bristles. 

 Northern Island, growing profusely upon rooky cliffs. PL Nov. -Dec. (Name in 

 allusion to the brush-like filaments.) Usually known as the Rock Lily. 



Arthropod ium candidum (The White Arthropodmm) . 



A jnuch smaller plant, usually Tin. or Sin. in height, with soft, grass-like 

 leaves. Flower-stem very slender ; iiowers white, -^in. across, with recurved 

 petals. Damp woods, both islands. PL Jan. -Feb. 



Genus Biilhinella. 



Herbs, with fibrous or bulbous roots. A large genus, found in all temperate 

 climates. Leaves from the root, long and narrow. Flowers in racemes. 

 Perianth of G leaflets ; stamens 6 ; filaments of stanrens bearded. Fruit a. 

 capsule ; seeds black. 2 sp, 



Bulbinella Rossii (liosss BulUndla.) 



A tall, sturdy plant, sometijnes reaching 4ft. in height. Stem very thick ; 

 leaves 8in.-16in. long, recurved. Flowers yellow, asphodel-like, Jin. across. 

 This plant is abundant in Lord Auckland's group, and in Campbell's Island, 

 while the smaller species, Bulbinella Hookeri, is found in lowland and sub-alpine 

 pastures in both the Northern and Southern Islands of New Zealand. The 

 flowers are as large as in the fornrer species, but the leaves and the whole plant 

 are smaller. It is frequently — at least in the Southern part of New Zealand — 

 known as the Maofi Onion. In some places a whole mountam side may be seen 

 covered with a blaze of yellow from the presence of myriads of racemes of this 

 plant. PI. (3ct.-Dec. 



Genus Phormiuni. 



Large, tufted, perennial herbs, with fibrous roots, and radical isobilateral 

 leaves. Flowers in large panicles. Perianth of 6 leaflets, tubular, red, or yellow. 

 Stamens 6, longer than the petals. Fruit a long capsule, many seeded. A 

 genus of two species, both endenrie. (Name from the Greek for a basket, in 

 allusion to the use of the leaves by the Maoris in basket-making). Maori name, 

 Haralicke. 



Phormium tenax (The New Zealand FLix, or Flax-Lily). 



This is a remarkable species, peculiar to Ne^w Zealand and 

 Norfolk Island. Like the cabbage-tree, it forms a distinct and 

 unmistakeable featm-e of the New Zealand landscape. It is 

 totally unlike the flax-plant known to Europeans, though the 

 two may be compared in the strength and usefulness of their 

 fibres. The Li/iaceae (Flax Tribe) constitute a family in 



