I'Zi PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Greiiii.s Dendrohium. 



Epiiihytic herbs, rigid iu habit. Leaves, narrow, numerous. Flowers large, 

 usually racemecl, rarely solitary. Petals smaller than the sepals. Lip large, 

 3-lobc(l. PoUeu-masses, 4. A large genus, many of whose plants are cultivated 

 for the beauty of their flowers. (Name from the Greek, signifying tree-life, in 

 allusion to the epiphytic habit). 1 sp. 



Dendpobium Cunninghamii [Cunningham's Dendrobium). 



Stems shining, branched, jjendulous, 1ft. -2ft. in length. Leaves lin.-ljiu. 

 long, -Jin. broad, pale green, striped. Flowers in short racemes, Jin. across, pale 

 rose-coloured. Petals as long as the sepals. Lip with a small claw. Both 

 islands. Fl. Nov. -Feb. 



Genus BoJhophijllum. 



Minute, leathery, epiphytic herbs. Stem matted, bearing small tubers or 

 bulbs, each carrying one or two leaves. Flower solitary or spiked, very similar 

 to Dendrohium. (Nanre from the Greek, signifying leaf-bulb). 1 sp. 



Bolbophyllum pygmaeum {The. Pygmij Bolbophtjllum). 



X very minute species. Bulbs no larger than a pea. Leaf solitary, sessile. 

 Flower solitary, minute. Both Islands. 



Cieitus Gastfodia. 



Terrestrial, leafless herbs, with twisted fleshy roots. Stem clothed with 

 brown scales. Flowers drooping, in racemes, brownish white. Petals smaller 

 than the sepals. Pollen-masses, 4. Found only in Australia, New Zealand, 

 Tasmania, and the Indian Islands. (Name from the Greek, signifying pot- 

 bellied). 



Gastrodia Cunninghamii (Cunnintiham's Gastrodia). 



,\ curious plant, '2ft. in height, with a thick, starchy root-stock, which was 

 sometimes used as food ))y the nati^•es. Flowers, 10-20 upon a spike, dirty-green, 

 spotted with white, aromatic but unpleasant. Not uncommon in damp bush in 

 both islands. FI. Dec. -Fob. 3 sp. 



Genus Aciatitlius. 



Slender herbs, with tuberous roots, and one single heart-shaped leaf. 

 Flowers birge for the size of the plant, green or brown. Pollen-masses 8. (Name 

 from the Grcol; signifying jJOMiferf-/tower). 1 sp. 



Acianthus Sinclairii (Sinclair's Acianihus). 



A tiny, transparent-looking plant, with small greenish-white flowers, two to 

 si.K in a raceme. Leaf deeply two-lobed at the base. Common in the North 

 Island. Fl. Aug. 



