144 CLASS-BOOK OF BOTANY. 
A large and varied order, of 3837 genera and about 4,100 species, of 
which the majority are tropical. Only 4 genera, with about 34 species 
are found in New Zealand. Of these, the genus Coprosma, with some 
27 species, reaches its maximum development in these islands, a few 
other species ranging to Australia, Borneo, and the Pacific Islands, All 
our species are endemic. Nertera (4 sp.) has 2 endemic species and 2 of 
wider distribution. Galiwm (2 sp.) and Asperula (1 sp.) are commonly- 
distributed genera, butwall our species are endemic. Galiwm aparine and 
Sherardia arvensis, common Furopean plants, have become naturalised 
here. 
The order contains a number of valuable plants. Quinine, Cincho- 
nine, and some other vegeto-alkaloids are obtained from the bark (Peru- 
vian bark) of various species of Cinchona. Ipecacuanha is the root of a 
Brazilian plant (Cephaélis). Coffee is the seed of a species of Coffea, 
indigenous to Abyssinia. Madder, which dyes Turkey-red, is the root of 
Rubia tinctorium; its cultivation has nearly ceased, as its colouring 
principle, Alizarine, is now prepared cheaply from coal-tar products. 
Bouvardia is almost the only genus cultivated for its flowers. 
Order XXXIX. Composira. 
Herbs, shrubs, or trees; leaves usually alternate, simple 
or compound, exstipulate. Flowers (florets) minute, sessile, 
crowded into capitula which are surrounded by 1 or more 
series of involucral bracts. Capitula solitary on scapes, or 
arranged in.cymes, corymbs, or panicles. Bracts sometimes 
coloured and simulating petals. Floral receptacle flat or coni- 
cal, naked or covered with chaffy scales or palex. Florets 
usually of two kinds: all, or inner only, tubular, g or ¥ ; or 
outer 2 or ¥,often ligulate. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary ; 
limb 0, or of seales or hairs (pappus). Corolla either tubular 
or campanulate, 4-5-lobed and valvate; or igulate. Stamens 
5, epipetalous; anthers syngenesious, often produced down- 
wards into tails. Ovary 1-celled, inferior, with 1 erect ovule ; 
style 2-fid. Achene enclosed in the adnate calyx-tube. Seed 
exalbuminous, with plano-conyex cotyledons and short radicle. 
(Pp. 57-61, figs. 99-106.) 
The largest of all natural orders, with nearly 800 genera and 10,000 
species, distributed over all parts of the globe. It is also the largest order 
in New Zealand, having 24 genera and nearly 170 species. The affinities 
of most of the genera are Australian; only the more remarkable and 
characteristic are noted here. 
Olearia has 26 species, all endemic—the genus is chiefly Australian ; 
Pleurophyllaum, a remarkable genus of 2 species, allied to Olearia, and 
confined to the islands lying south of New Zealand; Celmisia, a fine 
genus of some 28 species, of which only one ranges outside of New Zealand, 
and occurs on the mountains of Tasmania and south-east Australia ; 
Abrotanella, 5 species, all endemic, a genus of ereatly-retrograded Antarc- 
tic composites; Cotula, a widespread genus, 7 out of the 13 species found 
here are endemic. Of the great and widely-distributed genus Helichry- 
swum, all of our 14 species are endemic. Raowlia, an allied genus, is 
characteristic of these islands; its 14 representative species ‘are all en- 
demic, and only 1 (or 2) occurs in Australia. Haastia, a peculiar and 
endemic genus of 3 or 4 species. Of Senecio, one of the largest genera 
of flowering plants, 24 out of our 26 species are endemic, the other 2 
being Australian also. Brachyglottis is an allied genus of 1 endemic 
