160 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Mesembryanthemum austpale (The Southern 



Mesembryanthemum). 



Stems 1 ft. -2 ft. in length, prostrate, rooting at the nodes. Leaves united 

 at the base, 1 in. -3 in. long, thick, fleshy, shining. Flower-stems short, thick. 

 Flowers with spreading petals, f in.-l in, across, white or pink. Petals 50-60. 

 Styles 5-8. Ovary 5-8 celled. Both islands : abundant on the sea-shore. FL 

 Nov. -March. Called by colonists, ^j)(/s' /oc^s ot ice-i^lant. 



Gemis Tetragonia. 



Herbs, erect or trailing. Leaves succulent, alternate. Flowers axillary. 

 Calyx 3-5 lobed. Petals 0. Stamens few or many. Styles 2-8. Ovary 2-8- 

 celled. Cells 1-ovuled. Fruit round or angular, fleshy, sometimes horned, 

 (Name from the Cireek, in reference to the angular calyx- tube.) 2 sp. 



Tetragonia expansa. 



An erect, branched, fleshy herb. Leaves 1 in. -3 in. long, glistening with 

 papillfe. Flowers solitary or in pairs, sessile or with very short stalks. Calyx 

 4-lobed. Stamens 12-16. Styles 3-8. Ovary 3-8-celled. Pruit angular, 

 usually with 2-4 horns. New Zealand Spinach. Kermadecs to Stewart 

 Island : oti the seashore. Fl. Dec. to Feb. 



Ranunculaceae. 



Buttercup, Anemone, and Clematis Family. 



Distribution. — A family of about 700 species, found chiefly in temperate and 

 colder regions. It includes about 50 New Zealand species. Most plants of the 

 order contain an acrid juice which is almost invariably poisonous. Some furnish 

 valuable drugs, e.g.. Hellebore and Aconite. Others are cultivated on account 

 of their beauty, such as Ranunculus, Anemone, Christmas Rose, Columbine, 

 Larkspur, and Clematis. 



Key to the Getura. 



1. C]iiii1>ing sbrnbs Clematis. 

 Herbs. 2 



2. Petals none. Caltlia. 

 Petals present. Ranunculus. 



