usually 5 in a whorl, 1–2 in. long, all deeply pectinately pinnatifid; upper rather coarse, usually crowded and overlapping; submerged leaves not often seen, when present with longer capillary segments. Flowers rather large, 15–14 in. long, solitary or rarely in pairs in the axils of the floral leaves, with a pair of minute laciniate bracts at the base of each. Calyx-lobes present in both sexes, deltoid, jagged. Petals in the males only, linear-oblong. Stamens 8. Stigmas usually 4, plumose. Nuts 4, 18 in. long, laterally compressed, usually with a single or double row of tubercles down the back, but sometimes smooth and rounded.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 151. M. variæfolium var. b. Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 64.
North Island: In swamps from Ahipara to the Upper Waikato, but often local; apparently rare further south. Hawke's Bay, Colenso! Mungaroa, Wellington, Kirk! South Island: Awatere, Kirk! Moutere, Nelson, T. F. C.; near Westport, Townson! Hokitika, Tipler. December–February.
This is seldom found in lakes or streams, and is a marsh plant rather than a true aquatic. It often covers large stretches in swamps that are quite dry in summer.
4. M. pedunculatum, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 123, t. 23b.—Stems short, simple or sparingly branched, tufted, 1–3 in. high, usually forming broad matted patches. Leaves opposite, minute, 18–14 in. long, linear or linear-spathulate, quite entire, rather fleshy. Flowers minute, usually diœcious; males shortly stalked or sessile; females sessile; bracts 2 at the base of each flower, minute, linear. Calyx-lobes 4, very minute. Petals 4, wanting in the female flowers. Stamens 8. Stigmas 4, plumose, recurved. Carpels 4, small, oblong, minutely rugose.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 67; Kirk, Students' Fl. 151.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island: From Cape Maria van Diemen southwards, but far from common. Sea-level to 2000 ft. December–February. Also in Australia and Tasmania.
M. verracosum, Lindl. in Mitch. Trop. Austral.; Benth. Fl. Austral, ii. 488, is included by Mr. Kirk in the "Students' Flora" as a native of New Zealand, on the authority of specimens gathered by himself near Tauranga Harbour. These are very imperfect, having no flowers and few withered fruits; but, having compared them with authentic examples of M. verrucosum from Australia, I can state definitely that they are not referable to that species. They only differ from M. intermedium in the upper leaves being pinnatifid, and until more complete specimens are obtained are best considered as a form of that plant.
3. GUNNERA, Linn.
Stemless herbs with creeping rhizomes, often forming broad matted patches. Leaves all radical, petiolate, ovate- or rounded-cordate, coriaceous and fleshy. Flowers small, unisexual or rarely hermaphrodite, in simple or branched spikes or panicles. Male flowers: Calyx-tube imperfect or wanting; lobes 2–3, minute. Petals 2–3 or wanting. Stamens 2–3; filaments filiform; anthers large. Females: Calyx-tube ovoid; lobes 2–3, small. Petals 2–3
