630 HALORAGIDACEAE. [Gunnera, 
7. G. arenaria Cheesem. ex T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii (1895) 
348.—A stout much-branched prostrate and matted herb, forming exten- 
sive patches in damp sandy soil; rhizome stout, clothed with the ragged 
bases of the old leaves. Leaves 3-24 in. long, thick and coriaceous, almost 
fleshy ; petioles long, stout, sheathing at the base, glabrous or with a few 
scattered flattened hairs; blade 4-?in., broadly ovate or elliptic-ovate or 
oblong, obtuse, cuneate at the base or truncate or almost cordate, coarsely 
crenate or crenate-lobed; veins prominent beneath. Peduncles variable 
in size, unisexual; males usually longer than the leaves, stout, 14-3 in. 
long. Flowers sessile or nearly so, with 1-2 linear cucullate bracts. 
Anthers 2, sessile, broadly oblong. Female peduncles in the flowering 
stage short and hidden among the leaves. Flowers densely crowded, 
forming a short oblong spike. Calyx-lobes 2-3, minute. Styles long, 
stout, subulate. Fruiting-peduncles either remaining short and concealed 
by the leaves, or greatly elongated and exceeding them, 14-3 in. long, in 
that case becoming stout succulent and coloured. Drupes 4-+ in. long, 
fleshy, yellowish-red, clavate and pendulous or obovoid and suberect.— 
Students’ Fl. (1899) 154; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 156. G. densi- 
flora T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii (1895) 346 (not of Hook. f.). 
Norra Isutanp: Moist places on sand-dunes on the western coast, from Cape Maria 
van Diemen to Port Waikato, 7. F. C., Petrie! R. H. Matthews! H. Carse! from Cape 
Egmont to Hawera and Patea, 7. F. C., Mrs. fF. Mason! from Patea to Waikanae, 
Cockayne, LB. C. Aston! SoutH Istanp: Cape Farewell, 7’. Kirk / New Brighton, 
Cockayne ; Forty-miles Beach, H. H. Allan! Fortrose, B. C. Aston ! 
Allied to G. dentata, but easily separated by the stouter and more glabrous habit, 
broader rounder and more fleshy obtuse leaves, stouter peduncles, and larger fruit. 
8. G. Hamiltoni 7. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii (1895) 347.— 
A stout coriaceous much-branched plant forming broad matted patches ; 
rhizomes as thick as a goose-quill. Leaves numerous, tufted, forming 
broad flat rosettes 2-4in. diam., coriaceous; petioles broad and flat, 
almost winged, sheathing at the base, glabrous or slightly villous; blade 
3-lin. long, ovate or ovate-deltoid, cuneate at the base, acute, closely 
and minutely toothed, glabrous; veins prominent below. Spikes uni- 
sexual; males stout; flowers lax, sessile. Female spikes at first hidden 
among the leaves; flowers crowded; bracts broadly ovate, laciniate. 
Fruiting-spikes 2-4in. long; drupes fleshy, clavate, red.—Students’ FI. 
(1899) 155; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 157. 
SoutsH Istanp: Hills near the mouth of the Oreti River, Southland, W. S. Hamil- 
fon! Stewart Isutanp: Mason Bay, W. Traill. 
A very remarkable plant, quite unlike any other, although undoubtedly allied to 
G. arenaria, I have only seen very fragmentary flowering specimens. 
Family LXXVI. ARALIACEAE. 
Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs. Leaves alternate or very rarely opposite, 
simple or digitately or pinnately divided, often large; stipules adnate to 
the base of the petiole or wanting. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or 
polygamous or dioecious, usually arranged in simple or compound umbels, 
less often in racemes or panicles. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 
truncate or toothed or almost obsolete. Petals usually 5, seldom 4 or 
more than 5, valvate or slightly imbricate. Stamens as many as the 
