Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/46

6 The brownish colour, slender habit, minute leaflets, and small flowers distinguish this from all others except C. quadribracteolata, to which some forms approach far too closely. A variety collected by Mr. Petrie at Tuapeka (Otago) appears to be quite intermediate, and might almost be referred to either species. North Island specimens are usually more slender and have smaller leaflets than the southern ones. Some of Mr. Petrie's Otago specimens are remarkable for their large foliaceous bracteoles, which are linear- spathulate and sometimes ¾ in. long.

9. C. quadribracteolata, ''Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst.'' xiv. (1882) 329.—Stems and branches very slender, branched, trailing, 1–3 ft. long, glabrous except the very young shoots. Leaves few, trifoliolate; petioles slender, 1–2 in. long; leaflets minute, $1⁄6$–$1⁄4$ in. long, usually Imear or lanceolate, but varying to linear-oblong, ovate-lanceolate, or triangular-acute, glabrous, entire or one or all 3-lobed. Peduncles solitary or 2–3 together in the axils of the leaves, 1-flowered, usually shorter than the petioles, pubescent; bracteoles 2 or 3 pairs, connate, upper the largest, sheathing at the base, rounded, obtuse. Flowers purplish, sweet-scented, ¼–¾ in. diam. Sepals 4, linear or linear-oblong, usually acute, silky. Anthers linear. Achenes small, almost glabrous when fully ripe, narrowed into short plumose tails.—Kirk, Students' Fl. 4. C. fœtida var. depauperata, ''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i 7; Handb. N.Z. Fl.'' 2.

Annual herbs, of small size. Leaves all radical, linear, entire. Scapes usually numerous, naked, 1-fiowered. Sepals 5, rarely more, minutely spurred at the base. Petals wanting in the New Zealand species. Stamens 5–8. Carpels numerous; ovules solitary, pendulous. Achenes closely packed on a long and slender spike-like receptacle which usually lengthens much as they ripen, each with a raised nerve on the back, ending in a short persistent style.

1. M. aristatus, ''Benth. in Lond. Journ. Bot.'' vi. 459.—Varying, in size from 1–3 in. Leaves numerous, $1⁄20$ in. broad or even less, erect, linear or linear-spathulate. Scapes usually several, slender, 1-flowered. Flower minute, yellowish, apetalous. Sepals 5, spur short. Stamens generally 5. Receptacle in fruit oblong or linear, ¼–¾ in. long; achenes with a short beak.—''Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 8; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 3; Kirk, Students' Fl.'' 5.