"Bina 
on 
Muehlenbeckia. | POLYGONACEAE. 401 
A small genus of about 15 species, found in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific 
islands, and extra-tropical and Andine South America. Of the four species described 
below, one is found in Australia and another in Norfolk Island, the remaining two are 
endemic. 
Leaves 1-3 in., broad-ovate, acuminate, membranous. Flowers in 
much- branched panicles .. .. LL. M. australis. 
An erect densely branched shrub. Leaves small, itin. Flowers 
minute, in fascicles of 2—4 . .. 2. M. Astoni. 
Leaves }-}in., broadly oblong or orbicular, Flowers in spikes, 
rarely panicled ‘ , iS .. o& M. complexa. 
A small prostrate shrub. Leaves <1 ay —¢ In., ovate-oblong or orbi- 
cular. Flowers solitary or 2 together 7 re .. 4 M. axillaris. 
Leaves wanting, or, if present, linear. Male flowers in lax spikes ; 
females in few-flowered fascicles Ag 
M. ephedriordes; 
1. M. australis hiforesn. ie Comm. (1843) 227.— A much-branched 
climber, covering shrubs or small trees, or trailing over cliffs or rocks ; 
trunk stout, woody, sometimes 3in. diam.; bark greyish; branches 
numerous, flexuous and interlaced, the younger ones grooved and angled, 
glabrous or faintly scaberulous. Leaves petiolate, 1-3 in. long, ovate or 
orbicular—oblong, apiculate or acuminate, rarely obtuse, cordate or trun- 
cate at the base, thin and membranous, quite glabrous, usually entire, but 
sometimes _panduriform or 3-lobed, margins undulate-crisped ; petioles 
4-lin. long; stipules deciduous. Panicles large, axillary and terminal, 
much branched, 1-3 in. long or more. Flowers about }1in. diam., greenish, 
dioecious ; males with 8 stamens and the rudiment of an ovary; females 
with 8 blunt staminodia and a short triquetrous ovary; stigmas broad, 
fimbriate. Fruiting perianth closed over the fruit, slightly succulent or 
almost herbaceous. Nut black, shining, 3-angled and 3-grooved, angles 
often twisted.—Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 592. M. adpressa Hook. f. 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 236 (not of Meissn.). Polygonum australe A. Rich. 
Fl. Nouv. Zel. (1832) 178; A. Cunn, Precur. (1838) n. 355 ; Hook f. Fl. Nor. 
Zel. 1 (1853) 210; Raoul Choix (1846) 42. P. adpressum A. Cunn. Le. (1838) 
n. 356 (not_of Labill.). Coccoloba australis Forst. Prodr. (1786) n. 176. 
“Ww. . See nee Poke ial. « i 
NortTH AND SoutH ISLANDS, STEWART ISLAND, 7a IsLANDS : Common from 
the Three Kings Islands and the North Cape southwards. Sea-level to 2000 ft. 
November—April. 
Also found in Norfolk Island, and very closely allied to the Australian M. adpressa 
Meissn. 
2. M. Astoni Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xliii (1911) 257, t. 2.—A much- 
branched shrub, forming erect masses 4-6 ft. high and almost as much 
in diameter ; composed of numerous eae and interlacing zigzag 
branches mixed with cane-like woody shoots +-4in. diam. Branches dark- 
brown or reddish-brown, glabrous; bark tirea wed or eae Leaves 
in fascicles of 2-3 on short lateral branchlets, small, }-4in. long, rarely 
more; petiole about 4 the length; blade broadly ohéondats thin and 
menihran ear quite ew veins indistinct. Flowers minute, ms fascicles 
of 2-4 at the tips of the branchlets. Peduncles very short, sometimes 
almost wanting, Ripe fruit not seen. 
NortH Istanp: Coast near Cape Turakirae, Cook Strait, Palliser Bay, B. C. 
Aston! Petrie! T. F.C. SoutH Is~tanpD: River-flats by the Awatere River, near 
Seddon, B. C. Aston / 
A very distinct and peculiar species, quite unlike any other. 
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