removed by a deeper division from the rest, the calycine segments are more membranous and foliaceous, and the whole plant more or less hairy; its berry is very similar to that of P. arenaria, being large and apparently purple. Unless in specimens furnished with tolerably ripe fruit, it is difficult to recognise the genus Pratia, the character of the corolla being common to other true Lobeliaceæ, as is also that of the calyx, except that some of the species possess additional small lobes at the base of one or more of the segments. The bracts on the peduncles are also only occasionally present, and their situation is very variable.
Plate XXIX. Fig. 1, a young flower on a branch, of the natural size; fig. 2, the same removed; fig. 3, an anther aristate at its summit; fig. 4, young stigmata; fig. 5, ripe berry; fig. 6, transverse, and fig. 7, longitudinal section of the same; fig. 8, ripe seed; fig. 9, the same cut open, showing the embryo; fig. 10, embryo removed:—all magnified.
XVIII. EPACRIDEÆ, Br.
Tribe STYPHELIEÆ, Br.
1. ANDROSTOMA, Hook. fil.
Calyx 5-phyllus, basi bibracteolatus (pedunculis multi-bracteolatis). Corolla urceolata, limbo imberbi, segmentis 5 acutis. Stamina fauce corollæ sinubus inserta, filamentis breviusculis antherisque omnino exsertis. Discus hypogynus cyathiformis, profunde 5-lobus. Ovarium 2—4-loculare, loculis monospermis. Drupa baccata putamine osseo.—Fruticulus ex Insulis Auckland et montibus Novte Zelandite, prostratus, ramosus, ramorum apicibus ascendentibus. Folia parva, sparsa, linearia, patentia, integra, subtus striata. Flores parvi, inconspicui.
1. Androstoma empetrifolia, Hook. fil. (Tab. XXX.)
Hab. Lord Auckland's group; in the upland regions, abundant.
Caules prostrati, graciles, filiformes, elongati, spithamæi ad bipedalem et ultra, diametro pennæ corvinæ, basi nudiusculi, fusco-brunnei, cicatricosi, ramosi, ramis elongatis, apicibus ascendentibus foliosis. Folia parva, 1½ lin. longa, undique inserta, nullibi conferta, inferioribus sparsis, horizontaliter patentia, breviter petiolata, linearia, subacuta, marginibus recurvis; supra convexa, medio canaliculata, fusco-viridia; subtus glauca, striata, pubescentia, demum glabra, rigida et coriacea; juniora imbricata, erecta; seniora caduca. Flores rari, sparsi, axillares, valde inconspicui, solitarii v. bini, pedunculati. Pedunculus ½ lin. longus, 1- rarius 2-florus, arcuatus, villosus, multi-squamosus, squamis 10-12 parvis imbricatis ovatis obtusis pergamentaceis medio incrassatis, marginibus subscariosis ciliatis, dorso sericeo-pubescentibus. Calyx 5-phyllus, basi bibracteolatus, tubo corollæ æquilongus, foliolis erectis late ovatis subacutis 3-5-nerviis ciliatis dorso pubescentibus; bracteæ 2, oppositæ, forma et textura inter foliola calycina et squamas pedunculi, sed manifeste calyci propriæ. Corolla tubuloso-urceolata, minima, inconspicua, sub ½ lin. longa, ad medium 5-fida, segmentis suberectis ovato-lanceolatis acutis medio uninerviis nervisque duobus lateralibus inconspicuis, marginibus recurvis sub lente minutissime scabridis, æstivatione imbricatis. Stamina 5, tota exserta, filamentis lineari-subulatis fauce ipsa intra sinus corollæ insertis, erectis, segmento ½ brevioribus superne curvatis, anthcris apice filamenti pendulis late oblongis. Discus hypogynus carnosulus, cyathiformis, profunde quinquelobus, lobis rotundatis integris. Ovarium ovatum, sessile, basi disco hypogyno cinctum, gradatim in stylo valido attenuatum, 2—4-loculare, loculis uniovulatis, ovulo funiculo brevi angulo superiore interno loculi pendulo, elongato. Drupa immatura, carnosa, late ovata, 1 lin. lata, corolla ventricosa calyceque persistente suffulta et semi-immersa stylo acuminata; putamine indurato 2—4-loculari.
As this plant has been found by Mr. Bidwill on Tongariro, it is probably not uncommon in the alpine
