Stalbocarpa. |: ARALIACEAE. 631 
petals, and inserted with them round the margin of an epigynous disc ; 
filaments usually inflexed. Ovary inferior, 2- to many-celled, rarely 1-celled ; 
styles as many as the cells, free or connate ; ovules solitary, pendulous, 
anatropous. Fruit drupaceous, indehiscent; epicarp usually succulent ; 
cells 2 to many, l-seeded. Seeds pendulous ; testa membranous ; albumen 
copious, fleshy ; embryo minute, radicle next the hilum. 
A family very closely allied to Umbelliferae, principally differing in the arborescent 
habit, valvate petals, ovary usually more than 2-celled, and succulent fruit. The 
species are mainly tropical or subtropical, few of them extending into the temperate 
zones. Genera 50; species about 650. The properties of the family are unimportant. 
Of the 5 genera found in New Zealand, Stilbocarpa is endemic ; Nothopanaz has its chief 
centre of distribution in New Zealand, but has a few outlying species in Polynesia, 
Australia, and’ Malaya; Meryta, with the exception of the single species found in New 
Zealand and another in Queensland, is predominantly Polynesian and Melanesian ; 
Schefflera is a large genus abundant in the tropics of both hemispheres with a single 
outlying species in New Zealand; while Psewdopanax is mainly New Zealand, but 
has two or three representatives species in South America. 
* Herbaceous, with broad orbicular-reniform leaves. Petals imbricate. . 
Fruit globose or hollowed at the top a? a .. 1. STILBOCARPA. 
** Shrubs or trees. Petals valvate. Stamens equal in number to the petals. 
Leaves simple or digitate. Ovary 2-celled, rarely 3—4-celled. 
Styles distinct, recurved at the apex 2. NoTHOPANAX. 
Leaves simple, very large. Flowers paniculate We .. & MeERyTa. 
Leaves digitate. Umbels small, racemed on the branches of a 
large spreading panicle +t “6 7 .. 4, SCHEFFLERA. 
‘Leaves simple or digitately divided. Ovary usually 5-celled. 
Styles very short, connate into a cone or column .. .. 9. PSEUDOPANAX. 
1. STILBOCARPA A. Gray. 'S34, 
Large and stout much-branched herbs. Rhizome long, thick and fleshy, 
wide-creeping. Stems branched from the base, 2-3 ft. high or more. 
Leaves large; petioles long, fistulose, setose or pubescent, furnished with 
broad membranous sheaths at the base. Umbels terminal and axillary, 
compound, forming a globose head 6-l10in. diam., involucral bracts 
foliaceous. Flowers polygamo-monoecious, jointed on the top of the 
pedicel. Calyx-tube 2—4-grooved ; limb almost obsolete. Petals 5, linear 
or obovate, obtuse or acute. Stamens 5; filaments long or short; 
anthers. ovate. Disc annular, fleshy, 3-4-lobed. Ovary either 3—4-celled 
or 2-celled; styles as many as the cells, straight or recurved. Fruit 
globose or depressed-globose, flat or hollowed at the apex. Seeds as 
many as the cells, ovoid; albumen copious. 
A very remarkable and distinct genus, composed of three species restricted to 
Stewart Island and the islands to the south of New Zealand. Although distantly 
allied to Aralia, it has no near relatives in South America or Australia. 4 
A, Stillbocarpa. Ovary 3-4-celled. Fruit hollowed at the apex. 
Stolons not developed. Upper surface of leaves usually clothed 
with stout bristly hairs. lowers yellowish-green with a purplish 
centre .. 22 Pa | lL. S. polaris. 
B. Kirkophytum. Ovary 2-celled. Fruit globose, not hollowed at the apex, 
Arcuate stolons strongly developed. Upper surface of leaves 
nearly glabrous. Flowers reddish-purple st “ 
Stolens not developed. Upper surface of leaves nearly glabrous. 
Flowers yellowish s . ste a .. o& S. robusta, 
2. 8. Lyallit. 
