Parsonsvd. | APOCYNACEAE. 739 
Var. parviflora H. Carse in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xlix (1917) 46.—Leaves of mature 
plants narrow-linear, 2-4 in. long, about $in. wide. Flowers small, $ in. long. creamy- 
white. This is probably the same as Forster’s plant, but until a comparison can be 
made with his types the matter must remain in abeyance. 
Var. rosea Cockayne in Report Scenery Preserv. (1915) 3 rosea Raoul l.c.— 
Leaves very similar to the preceding, but flowers rose- Cee pee Tins. See Mat, Ve e4 ) 
Var. grandiflora H. Carse l.c.— More robust than the preceding, and leaves often 
broader. Flowers larger, 4-1 in. long, red to yellowish-red or orange-red. 
i 
North anp Soutu Isnanps: From the North Cape to Foveaux Strait. Var. 
parviflora not uncommon, but often local. Var. rosea in several stations near Banks 
Peninsula. Var. grandiflora: Mongonui County, H. Carse/ vicinity 3 Whangapet va 
H. Carse! A. T. Pycroft! Great Barrier Island, Colonel Boscawen ! —_ 
{feat Perse S$ 
Family LXXXVIII. CONVOLVULACEAE. 
Herbs or shrubs, frequently twining, often with milky juice. Leaves 
alternate, exstipulate, wanting in Cuscuta. Flowers regular, usually her- 
maphrodite, axillary, solitary or cymose, often large and showy. Calyx 
inferior, persistent, usually of 5 distinct imbricated sepals. Corolla gamo- 
petalous, hypogynous, campanulate or funnel-shaped or rotate, lmb 
shortly or deeply 5-lobed or almost entire, often plaited and contorted in 
bud. Stamens 5, inserted on the tube of the corolla and alternate with its 
lobes ; anthers oblong, opening lengthwise. Ovary superior, usually sur- 
rounded by an annular disc, 2—4-celled, rarely 1-celled, sometimes divided 
into 2—4 distinct carpels; style single or 2; stigma capitate or 2-lobed 
or branched; ovules usually 2 in each cell or carpel, erect, anatropous. 
Fruit a |—4-celled capsule, 2-4-valved or bursting transversely or irregu- 
larly, rarely sueculent and indehiscent. Seeds erect; albumen scanty or 
wanting; embryo curved, cotyledons broad, much folded and crumpled 
(in Cuscuta the embryo is spiral and undivided). 
A moderately large family, widely spread over the whole world, but most plentiful 
in warm or tropical climates. Genera 40; species about 1000. As a rule, the roots 
abound in a milky and acrid juice, which is often strongly purgative and used in 
medicine, as jalap and scammony. In some species the roots are inert and edible, 
as the common, sweet potato, so largely cultivated in all warm countries. Many 
species of [pomoea and allied genera are grown for the sake of their large and showy 
flowers. All the New Zealand ¢ genera have a wide range. 
* Leafy plants, twining or prostrate. 
+ Corolla plaited. Style single. 
Ovary 2—4-celled. Stigma capitate, or lobes globose .. I. Tpomona. 
Ovary imperfectly 2-celled. Stigmas 2, oblong, flat. Bracts large, 
enclosing the calyx Ps af .. 2, CALYSTEGIA, 
Ovary |- celled. Stigmas 2, linear, flat. Bracts small or wanting.. 3. CoNVOLVULUS. 
++ Corolla rotate. Styles 2. 
Ovary of 2 separate carpels .. nei ig . .. 4, DicHonpra, 
** Leafless twining parasites. 
Corolla small, campanulate . CuscuTa, 
Cr 
— 
— 
i. IPOMOEA Linn. | 726 
Twining or prostrate herbs, rarely suberect. Leaves alternate, entire 
or lobed or divided. Flowers usually large and handsome, axillary. 
solitary or cymose. Sepals broad or narrow, equal or unequal, erect in 
24* 
