THE CUJiKANT-TEE]'; FAMILY 1.S5 



Splendid specimens of this plant are to he found at the head 

 of Patei'son's Inlet (Stewart Island). Anotlier well-known and 

 readily accessible habitat is the Bluff Hill, Mr. Ci. INI. 

 Thomson experimented on specimens of D. arctiiri, from the 

 l)ogs on the top of IMaungatua."' He considers that, owiirg" to 

 its frequent complete immersion iir wet weather, it is seldom 

 to be found in its native habitat with insects on the leaves. 

 However, he found that four s[)ecimens of Aphis (blight) from 

 rose leaves were completeh' digested in about four days' time 

 by a single leaf of D. arctiiri, though young leaves were 

 easily sickened by an overdose of meat. 



The method of pollination in the New Zealand species does 

 not seem to have been observed, though it is probably of con- 

 siderable interest. 



Saxifragaceae. 



The Curraxt-teee Fajiily. 



Distribution. — A hirge family, containing many beautiful Alpino species. 

 Tlie London Pride, or None-so-Pretty (Sax-ifraga tmibrosa) is used as a border 

 edging in English gardens. Many other plants of the family are cultivated in 

 rockeries, and some are remarkable for the chalky crust which forms on the 

 margins of their leaves. The British Grass of Parnassus {Parnassus palustris) 

 is one of the most beautiful of bog plants. The Currant and the Gooseberry are 

 largelv cultivated for their fruits. The New Zealand genera have all woody 



stems. 



7u'?/ to the Genera. 



1. Leaves oDPOsite. '^ 



Leaves alternate. 

 ■2. Flowers ill panicles. lAckama i). 



Flowers In racemes. 



3. Ovary superior. 

 Ovary interior. .... ,„ 



4. Flowers racemose. Petals overlapping in Imd. Quuitmia. p. IH . 

 Flowers ])anicled. Petals tonchinf,' in bud. Carpodetus. p. 188, 



Weinmannia. p. 188. 

 Ixerba. p. 1H6. 

 4 



'Trans. N.Z. Inst. Vol xiii., p. ail. 

 I Not furtber described. 



