Coriaria. | CORIARIACEAE. 544 
applied. For particulars, reference should be made to a paper by Professor Easterfield 
and Mr. B. C. Aston, published by the New Zealand Department of Agriculture ; and 
to one by F. Fitchett entitled “ The Physiological Action of Tutin”’ (Trans. N.Z. Inst. 
vol. xli (1909) 286-366). The juice expressed from the ripe fleshy petals, when the 
seeds are strained from it, is quite innocuous, and is used as a non-intoxicating drink 
by the Maoris. | 
The probable identity of the New Zealand plant with the South American C. rusct- 
folia was first alluded to by Dr. Solander when dealing with the specimens obtained 
during Cook’s first voyage. But Forster, in his account of the botany of Cook’s second 
voyage, described it as distinct, under the name of C. sarmentosa. In the “ Flora Novae- 
Zelandiae,’’ however, Sir J. D. Hooker, as the result of the study and comparison of 
specimens from both countries, definitely united them under the one name of C. rusci- 
folia. Of late, the separation of the two plants has again been proposed, but not, so 
far as I can learn, as the result of any searching comparison. On the other hand, Mr. 
W. R. B. Oliver informs me that during a recent visit to England he had the oppor- 
tunity of examining sets of both plants in the Kew Herbarium, and formed the opinion 
that they are identical. For the present, therefore, I consider it unwise to disturb 
the existing nomenclature. 
2. C. thymifolia Humb. and Bonp. ex Willd. Sp. Plant. iv, 819.— 
A small suffruticose or herbaceous plant 6 in. to 4 ft. high; rootstock often 
stout, woody, much branched; stems and branches slender, with winged angles, 
often flattened in one plane. Leaves variable in size, $-1 in., oblong-ovate 
ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, acute or acuminate, sessile or very shortly 
petioled, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Racemes 1-4 in. long, slender, 
spreading, pubescent. Flowers rather smaller than in C. ruscifolia, often 
unisexual.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. 1 (1853) 45; Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 47; 
Inndsay Contrib. N.Z. Bot. (1868) 87; T. Kirk Students’ Fl. (1899) 98 ; 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 106. C. lurida T. Kirk Le. 
NortH AND SouruH IsLanps, Stewart Istanp: From the East Cape, Mount 
Egmont, and Taupo southwards, not uncommon in mountainous districts. 1000— 
5000 ft. Tutupapa. 
In its ordinary state this is distinct enough; but large-leaved forms pass direct 
into C. ruscifolia, and narrow-leaved varieties into C. angustissima. I cannot separate 
Mr. Kirk’s C. lurida save as a trivial variety. A form with the margins of the leaves 
distinctly undulate, collected on both flanks of the Kaimanawa Mountains by Aston, and 
~ oe 
near Te Whaiti (Whakatane County) by Petrie, has been sent to me by Mr. Petrie under | 
the MS. name of C. thymifolia var. undulata. | 
3. C. angustissima Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. (1864) 47. — Rootstock 
stout, branched. Stems herbaceous, slender, tufted, often covering large 
patches. Branches numerous, dense, almost plumose; branchlets filiform 
or almost capillary. Leaves very numerous, small, $-}1in. long, narrow- 
linear or linear-subulate, sessile or very shortly petioled, acuminate. 
Racemes 1-3 in. long, slender, glabrous or nearly so. . Flowers small, very 
similar to those of C. thymefolia, often unisexual. Fruit rather large, 
globose, almost black.—lLindsay Contrib. N.Z. Bot. (1868) 87; T. Kirk 
Students’ Fl. (1899) 98; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 106. 
Norrn Istanp: Mount Egmont, Dieffenbach, Gibson! Ruahine Range, Colenso, 
B. C. Aston / Kaimanawa Mountains and Mount Holdsworth, B. C. Aston! Souts 
IstaND: Subalpine localities from the Spenser Mountains to the south-west of Otago, 
alt. 1500-4000 ft. Srewart Istanp: Ruggedy Mountains, Poppelwell. December-— 
February. | 
it is almost impossible to distinguish states of this from small forms of C. thymifolia ; 
but the tall fine-leaved or almost plumose variety so abundant on many portions of the 
Canterbury Alps has a remarkably distinct appearance. 
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