14:'J PLANTS OF NEW ZEyVLAND 



they send oiit suckers into the tree, and at tliese ponits, 

 rounded woody hurrps are formed, nivested with dark-brown 

 niembranorrs scales. The earlier leaves of the plant are 

 strongly tinged with reddish purple, some are of a pale bronze 

 margined with claret, and the branches are of a rich warm 

 brown. Some years elapse before tlie plants assume the 

 darker shades of green. 



L. Ficldii often puts out short rootlets whicli clasp the 

 Ijranch, arrd frequently grows on Ijranches smaller than 

 itself. " Thus," Field (he. cit.), " one with roots from one to 

 one and a half mches thick will grow on a branch no thicker 

 than a man's little finger, which, of course, bends down with 

 its weight, so that the Lurauilnis swings about with every 

 l)reath of air." Yet it is evident that the plant is nourished 

 by the beech tree, for, if the beech is killed, the Loraiifhus 

 invariably dies with it. 



There are many points of interest known with regard to 

 the development of European species of Loruntlnis, and a 

 closer investigation of New Zealand forms will undoubtedly 

 well repay the labour spent upon it. 



Lopanthus Colensoi (Colenso'a Mistletoe). 



A large glabrous shrulj. Leaves li^ in. -'2 in. long, liroadly oblong or 

 obovate, with a short stout petiole. Flowers 11 in. -'2 in. long, searlet, in pairs, 

 on a shoi't, stout, 3-9-flowered peduncle. Kr>tb islands. PI. Dec. -.Jan. 



L. Fieldii is a little-known somewhat similar species from the centre of the 

 North Island. 



Loranthus tetrapetalus {The Fonr-yctaled Mistletoe). 



A much branched rigid shrub. Leaves decussate, ^ iu.-| in. long, ovate or 

 elliptic. Flowers axillary, in opposite 'J-4-tlowered racemes. Petals free, scarlet, 

 recurved at the tips. Both isbmds. Connnon on Nothofagus Solandri. Fl. 

 •Jan. -Feb. 



Loi-anthus flavidus iTlie Yclloie Mistletoe). 



Leaves 1 \)\.--J. in. long. lia.ccmcs drooping, 10-12 Howei'ed, Flower 

 yellow, h in. long. Both islands. 



