:-!44 PLANTS OF NHW ZEALAND 



Calystegia TugunioPum (The Sinnllcr Bnidirecd). 



Corolla 1 in. -2 in. acvoss. .\ \erv .siniilai- plant to the proceeding, Imt smaller 

 in all its parts, and geiierally not cliuiliing, but sprawling over hushes at the 

 edge of the forest and elsewhere. Koth islands. PI. Deo. -Jan. 



C. TiKiunorum is one ol' tlie brightest of way-side dowers. 

 It may often be found clambering over clumps of 

 Milhlenheckia or liuhus, by the roadside. Its large snow- 

 white blossoms form one of the chief floral ornaments of the 

 later summer. 



Calystegia soldanella {The Soldamlla-like Cdliisteijici). 



Stems prostrate, often ))uried heneath the sand ; leaves fleshy, rounded or 

 liidney shaped ; flowers solitary, almost as large as in the previous species, pale 

 rose-coloured, or red, striped vertically with yellow, or yellowish white. Both 

 islands : abundant on sandy beaches. Native name Nilii-iulii. European name 

 Sea-bindweed. Fl. Dec. -Feb. 



Gejiiis Dichondra. 



A genus found in Australia, Tasmania, South America, and New Zealand. 

 <'aJyx 5-parted ; corolla .5-lobed. Fruit a capsule. 2 sp. 



Dichondra pepens (TJie Greepimj Dichondra). 



A small, prostrate herb, with silky leaves, and small yellow flowers. Calyx 

 longer than the corolla. 



Geiins Cnscuta. 



Parasitic plants, adhering liy suckers to their hosts. Leaves 0. Flowers in 

 small clusters or racemes, white, pink or yellow. Stems thread-like, often red in 

 colour. Calyx petaloid, 4-5-xiarted ; corolla 4-5-lobed ; stamens 4-5. Cuscuta 

 eiiropaea is a most beautiful little plant, with bright red stems, and waxy-white 

 clusters of flowers. 



This is a genus of twining leafless parasites, found in all 

 [)arts of the world. Only one New Zealand form is known, 

 and it is rare. The clover-dodder (C. trifolii) has, however, 

 been introduced from Europe, and is proving a pest in some 

 localities. The seeds in this genus develop on damp gromrd. 

 Xo cotyledons are formed, but the young plant is a spirally 

 twisted thread. It germinates late in the year, when there is 

 already plenty of vegetation al)out it. As it grovv^s, tlie upper 

 end of the plant kee[)s on revolving from right to left, while the 



