G. monoica, Raoul in Ann. Sci. Nat. Ser. iii. 2 (1844) 117.—A slender herb with numerous creeping rhizomes and tufts of radical leaves, often forming broad matted patches, glabrous or sparsely covered with short white hairs, especially on the petioles and nerves of the leaves. Leaves ⅓–1 in. diam., orbicular or reniform, cordate or truncate at the base, obscurely 3–5-lobed and crenate, or crenate alone; petioles 1–3 in. long. Panicle very slender, 1–5 in. long, usually longer than the leaves. Male flowers occupying the upper three-quarters of the panicle, sessile or shortly pedicelled; each flower consisting of 2 stamens arising from between 2 minute page 154sepals, and with 1 or 2 ciliate bracts at the base of the pedicel. Females crowded at the base of the panicle. Calyx-lobes 2, linear, acute. Styles 2, very long. Fruit minute, 1/10 in. diam., globose or broadly ovoid, fleshy or coriaceous, red or white.—Raoul, Choix, t. 8; Hook.f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 65; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 67; Kirk, Students' Fl. 152.

Var. strigosa, Kirk, l.c.—More or less clothed with copious strigose hairs, sometimes almost hoary.—G. strigosa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 322. Hardly deserves varietal rank.

Var. ramulosa, Kirk, l.c.—Branches stout, much branched, clothed with the bases of the old leaves. Panicles much divided; branches often long. Flowers crowded. Fruit not known.

Var. albocarpa, Kirk, l.c.—Larger and stouter; rhizome sometimes as thick as a goose-quill. Leaves larger, sometimes 1½ in. diam. Panicles 3–6 in., much branched; branches long. Fruit globose, white, tipped with the black calyx lobes.

North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Chatham Islands: Abundant in moist places from Mongonui southwards. Sea-level to 3500 ft. November–January.

The chief distinguishing characters of this species are the broad reniform or orbicular-cordate leaves, very slender bisexual panicles, and minute globose drupe. But specimens possessing these characters differ from one another considerably in size, cutting of the leaves, size of the panicle and extent to which it is divided, and the size and colour of the fruit; and I suspect that a careful study of these forms in the field will result in the species being split up into two or more.

G. microcarpa, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 348.—Rhizomes slender, creeping. Leaves tufted, 2–4 in. long; petiole slender, hairy or strigose; blade about l in. long, broadly ovate or ovate-cordate, obtuse, crenate or crenate-lobed, both surfaces with scattered white hairs. Peduncles very slender, exceeding the leaves, 1–5 in. long, usually much branched below, rarely simple; upper two-thirds or more male, lower one-third female. Male flowers sessile on the branches or very shortly pedicelled, each with 2 narrow concave deciduous bracts. Sepals 2, minute, linear. Stamens 2; filaments often as long as the small broadly oblong obtuse anthers. Female flowers: Calyx-lobes 2, minute. Styles very long and slender, filiform. Persistent fruiting portion of the peduncle shorter than the leaves, often inclined. Drupes small, sessile, ovoid-globose, red or yellow, about 1/10 in. long.—Students' Fl. 153. G. mixta, Kirk, Students' Fl. 152. G. ovata, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxv. (1893) 274 (in part).

South Island: Otago and Southland, not uncommon, T. Waugh! Petrie! B. C. Aston! December–January.

Mr. Kirk's type specimens of G. microcarpa are in fruit only, and are few in number and otherwise imperfect. His G. mixta is based upon flowering specimens, to which the tall slender inflorescence gives a somewhat distinct appearance, although the leaves are identical. But the fine series of specimens in all stages of flower and fruit preserved in Mr. Petrie's herbarium prove beyond doubt that both are one and the same species. Its distinguishing characters are page 155the tall slender lax-flowered usually branched flowering-stems, the upper part of which is male and the lower female; the small broad anthers, on rather long filaments; and the small almost globose drupe. It is probably a widely distributed plant.

G. Flavida, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xviii. (1886) 260.—Rhizorne creeping, slender. Leaves 1½–3 3 in. long; petiole slender, glabrous or sparingly clothed with short white hairs; blade ½–1 in. long, ovate or elliptic-ovate or elliptic-oblong, obtuse, cordate or rounded or truncate at the base, finely crenate or sinuate-crenate or almost entire, rather membranous, glabrous or slightly hairy. Spikes unisexual. Males 1–3 in. long, rather slender; flowers lax or close together, on very short unbranched pedicels; each pedicel with a linear bract near the base, and 2 linear-cucullate deciduous bracteoles just under the flower. Sepals 2, small, narrow-linear. Stamens 2; filaments very short, almost wanting; anthers broadly ovate, apiculate. Female peduncles ½–1 in. long in the flowering stage; flowers crowded. Calyx-teeth 2, short. Styles 2, long. Fruiting peduncles 1–4 in. long, overtopping the leaves. Drupes ⅛ in., spreading, obconic, sessile or shortly pedicelled, red or Pale-yellow.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 153. G. ovata, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxv. (1893) 274 (in part).

North Island: Upper Waikato and Taupo, T. F. C.; between Taupo and Napier, Hill! Petrie! South Island: Abundant in Otago and Southland, Buchanan! Petrie,! Kirk! Hamilton! Sea-level to 3000 ft. December–January.

A comparison of a type specimen from Mr. Colenso with the types of Petrie's G. ovata prove that the two species are identical. In foliage it greatly resembles G. microcarpa, but the slender branched monœcious inflorescence of that species, together with the minute globose drupes, are altogether different from the short unisexual unbranched spikes of G. flavida, with their larger obconic fruit. G. prorepens only differs in the much larger size, and the two may prove to be forms of the one plant.

G. prorepens, Hook.f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 66.—A large and stout species, sometimes 12 in. high, although ordinarily less; rhizomes stout, creeping. Leaves 3–8 in. long; petioles 2–6 in., slender, glabrous or sparingly pilose; blade 1–2 in., ovate or oblong, obtuse, rounded or cordate at the base, crenulate, glabrous or slightly hairy. Flowers not seen. Fruiting peduncles usually longer than the leaves, simple, bearing many sessile lax or densely spiked drupes, which are ⅙ in. long, red, fleshy, obconic or nearly globose, with an irregular deep furrow at the top from whence the styles protrude.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 68 excl. var. b).

North Island: In subalpine wet localities, Colenso! South Island: West Coast, Lyall.

The only specimens I have seen that I can refer with certainty to this species are two in Mr. Colenso's herbarium. Mr. N. E. Brown has kindly compared one of them with the type at Kew, and informs me that it exactly corresponds. G. flavida does not seem to differ except in the smaller size of all its parts, and I should not be surprised at the two species proving to be states of one variable plant.

G. densiflora, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 68.—Forming broad matted patches. Rhizome rather stout, branched. Leaves 1–2 in. long; petioles half the length, strict, villous or glabrescent; blade ½–1 in. diam., orbicular or broadly ovate-orbicular, cordate at the base, sharply and minutely toothed, rather coriaceous. Spikes unisexual; males not seen; females short, concealed among the leaves. Flowers densely crowded, sessile. Calyx-lobes 2, subulate, acute. Styles 2, long, spreading. Fruiting spike shorter than the leaves. Drupes crowded, small, pendulous, 1/10 in. long. —Kirk, Students' Fl. 154.

South Island: Acheron and Clarence Rivers, altitude 4000 ft., [unclear: Tiavers] (Handbook); Craigieburn Mountains, Canterbury, Cockayne!

The above description is partly based upon that given in the Handbook, and partly upon Mr. Cockayne's specimens, which are the only ones I have seen that can be referred to the species.

G. dentata, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 346.—Forming extensive patches in watery subalpine localities. Rhizome stout, much branched, clothed with the bases of the old leaves. Leaves numerous, densely tufted, 1–3 in. long; petioles long, broad and flat, usually clothed with strigose hairs, sometimes almost shaggy; blade ⅓–1 in. long, ovate or elliptic-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, acute, rounded or cuneate at the base, often narrowed into the petiole, coarsely dentate, both surfaces with scattered white hairs or almost glabrous. Spikes unisexual. Males slender, about equalling the leaves; flowers sessile or nearly so, each with a pair of deciduous hood-shaped bracts. Sepals 2, minute, linear. Anthers broadly oblong. Female spikes very short, hidden at the base of the leaves; flowers densely crowded. Calyx-lobes 2, linear. Styles 2, very long, flattened at the base. Fruiting spikes sometimes elongated and exceeding the leaves, sometimes short and sessile among the leaves. Drupes sessile or nearly so, clavate, spreading or pendulous, 1/10 in. long.—Students' Fl. 154. G. prorepens var. b, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 68.

North Island: Colenso (Handbook); Taupo, Petrie! South Island: Subalpine localities from Nelson to Southland, but often local. 1000–3500 ft. December–February.

A distinct species, easily recognised by the narrow ovate or elliptic-oblong acute leaves, which are often cuneate at the base, and coarsely dentate.

G. arenaria, Cheesm. ex T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 348.—A stout much-branched prostrate and matted herb, forming extensive patches in damp sandy soil; rhizome stout, clothed with the ragged bases of the old leaves. Leaves ¾–2½ in. long, thick and coriaceous, almost fleshy; petioles long, stout, sheathing at the base, glabrous or with a few scattered flattened hairs; blade ⅓–¾ in., broadly ovate or elliptic-ovate or oblong, obtuse, cuneate at the base or truncate or almost cordate, coarsely crenate or crenate-lobed; veins prominent beneath. Peduncles variable in page 157size, unisexual; males usually longer than the leaves, stout, 1½–3 in. long. Flowers sessile or nearly so, with 1–2 linear cucullate bracts. Anthers 2, sessile, broadly oblong. Female peduncles in the flowering stage short and hidden among the leaves. Flowers densely crowded, forming a short oblong spike. Calyx-lobes 2–3, minute. Styles long, stout, subulate. Fruiting peduncles either remaining, short and concealed by the leaves, or greatly elongated and exceeding them, 1½–3 in. long, in that case becoming stout succulent) and coloured. Drupes ⅙–⅕ in. long, fleshy, yellowish-red, clavate and pendulous or obovoid and suberect.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 154. G. densiflora, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 346 (not of Hook. f.).

North Island: Sand-dunes on the western coast, from Cape Maria van Diemen to Port Waikato, T.F.C. Petrie! R. H. Matthews! H. Carse! South Island: Nelson—Cape Farewell, Kirk! Canterbury—New Brighton, Cockayne; Seventy-mile Beach, Buchanan! Southland—Sandy Point, T. Waugh!

Allied to G. dentata, but easily separated by the stouter and more glabrous habit, broader rounder and more fleshy obtuse leaves, stouter peduncles, and larger fruit.

G. Hamilton, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvii. (1895) 347.—A stout coriaceous much-branched plant forming broad matted patches; rhizomes as thick as a goose-quill. Leaves numerous, tufted, forming broad flat rosettes 2–4 in. diam., coriaceous; petioles broad and flat, almost winged, sheathing at the base, glabrous or slightly villous; blade ½–1 in. long, ovate or ovate-deltoid, cuneate at the base, acute, closely and minutely toothed, glabrous; veins prominent below. Spikes unisexual; males stout; flowers lax, sessile. Female spikes at first hidden among the leaves; flowers crowded; bracts broadly ovate, laciniate. Fruiting spikes 2–4 in. long; drupes fleshy, clavate, red.—Students' Fl. 155.

South Island: Hills near the mouth of the Oreti River, Southland, W. S. Hamilton! Stewart Island: Mason Bay, W. Traill.

A very remarkable plant, quite unlike any other, although undoubtedly allied to G. arenaria. I have only seen very fragmentary flowering specimens.