854 PLANTAGINACEAE., : [P lant ago. 
into a blunt fleshy or almost callous point ; margins, with the exception of 
the triangular tip, regularly and almost pinnatifidly divided into numerous 
shallow blunt fleshy or callous lobes; upper suriace furnished with short 
whitish jointed hairs that are usually arranged in transverse bands ; 
under-surface glabrous or nearly so; base of the leaf usually furnished 
with longer brownish tortuous hairs. but sometimes almost glabrous. 
Flowers minute, solitary in the axils of the leaves ; peduncles wanting 
or nearly so, apparently not elongating In fruit. Bract ovate, minute, 
Calyx-segments 4, ovate, obtuse. Corolla-tube three times the length 
of the calyx in the flowering period; limb 4-lobed, lobes oblong, obtuse. 
Stamens invariably 4 in all the numerous flowers examined. Capsule 
globose ; seeds numerous, 10-20. 
Nortru Isutanp: Sea-cliffs at Manaia, Taranaki, often in localities well washed 
with sea-spray, Mrs. FP, Mason ! 
This is evidently a close ally of P. triandra Berggren, but differs in the more robust 
habit, very fleshy and proportionately much broader leaves with obtuse callous tips, 
more minute sessile flowers the peduncles of which apparently do not lengthen in 
fruit, in the stamens being always 4, and in the smaller capsules. I have pleasure in 
associating the plant with the name of its discoverer, to whom I am much indebted 
for information respecting the vegetation of south-western Taranaki. 
8. P, uniflora Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 207.—A small tufted 
species, often forming extensive patches; root stout, much branched ; 
rootlets fibrous, descending, Stems short, stout, villous at the top with 
long tawny hairs. Leaves all radical, few, 1_j1 in. long, linear-lanceolate 
or oblong-lanceolate, sinuate-toothed or quite entire, acute or acuminate, 
oradually narrowed into a long and slender base, glabrous except at the 
villous base; midrib evident, veins faintly reticulated. Flowers solitary, 
in young flowers sessile or nearly so, but the scape eradually lengthens as 
the capsule ripens, ultimately becoming as long as or longer than the leaves, 
and usually sparingly clothed with long slender hairs. Sepals 4, linear- 
oblong, acute. Corolla-lobes narrow linear-oblong. Capsule 75 in. long, 
broadly oblong, obtuse—Handb. N.Z. Fl, (1864) 227 ; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. 
Fl. (1906) 573. 
o 
Nortu Istanp: Summit of the Ruahine Mountains, Colenso, B. C. Aston! 
Kaimanawa Mountains, B. C. Aston! Tararua Mountains, W. Townson! Petrie! 
B. OQ. Aston! Mount Hector, Petrie / 3500-5000 ft. December—February. 
Closely allied to P. triandra, but the habit is entirely different, the leaves narrower, 
the flowers always solitary, and the scapes, when mature, very long and slender, and 
clothed with long slender hairs. 
Family XCVUI. RUBIACEAE. 
_ Trees, shrubs, or herbs, rarely climbing. Leaves opposite or whorled, 
simple, entire or very rarely toothed or lobed. Stipules always present, 
usually interpetiolar, either free or united with the petioles into a sheath, 
or connate into a sheath or ring surrounding the stem within the petioles ; 
in the tribe Galieae resembling the leaves, and with them forming a whorl 
round the branch. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, variously 
arranged. Calyx-tube adnate to the ovary; limb 4~5-toothed or cupular, 
sometimes wanting. Corolla gamopetalous, tubular, funnel-shaped, cam- 
