4 or 5, inserted at the base of the corolla-tube; filaments long, fiiliform; anthers large, far-exserted, usually pendulous. Ovary 2-celled; styles 2, filiform, free nearly to the base, hirsute; ovules solitary in each cell. Drupe globose or ovoid, fleshy, containing 2 1-seeded pyrenes.
A small genus of 7 or 8 species, found in Australia and New Zealand, Java, the Philippine Islands, Andine and Antarctic South America, and Tristan d'Acunha.
| Perfectly glabrous. Leaves broad-ovate | 1. N. depressa. |
| Perfectly glabrous. Leaves narrow-ovate | 2. N. Cunninghamii. |
| Hairy or villous. Leaves cordate-ovate. Corolla short, 18 in. long | 3. N. dichondræfolia. |
| Hispid. Leaves ovate or oblong. Corolla long, ⅓–½ in., tubular | 4. N. setulosa. |
1. N. depressa, Banks and Sol. ex Gærtn. Fruct. i. 124, t. 26.—A slender glabrous perennial, very variable in size, often forming broad matted patches; stems 2—12 in. long, creeping and rooting at the nodes. Leaves ¼–½ in. long, broadly ovate or almost orbicular, acute or obtuse, rounded or truncate or almost cordate at the base, quite glabrous; petioles equalling the blade or shorter. Stipules small. Flowers very small and inconspicuous, solitary, terminal, sessile. Calyx-limb truncate or nearly so. Corolla 110 in. long, broadly funnel-shaped, 4-lobed. Drupe globose or broader than long, red.—Forst. Prodr. n. 501; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 481; Raoul, Choix, 46; Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 23; Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 112; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 120; Benth. Fl. Austral. iii. 431; Kirk, Students' Fl. 246. N. montana. Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 595.
North Island: Ruahine Range, Colenso. South Island, Stewart Island, Auckland Islands: Abundant throughout, chiefly in mountain districts. Ascends to 4000 ft. October–January.
Also found in Australia and Tasmania, South America, and Tristan d'Acunha. The leaves very rarely have a few sparse hairs on the upper surface.
2. N. Cunninghamii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 112.—Perfectly glabrous. Stems much more slender than in N. depressa, almost filiform, 4–18 in. long. Leaves ¼–⅓ in. long, narrow-ovate, acute, rounded at the base; petioles about as long as the blade. Stipules small, acute. Flowers very minute, terminal. Calyx-limb truncate or obsoletely 4-toothed. Corolla shorter and broader than in N. depressa, 112 in. long, 4-lobed. Stamens usually erect. Drupe globose, red, 18 in. diam.—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 120; Kirk, Students Fl. 247. ?N. papulosa, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxviii. (1896) 595.
North Island: Mongonui and Kaitaia southwards to Cook Strait, but often local. South Island: Near Westport, Townson! October–January.
This differs from the preceding species only in the more slender habit, narrower leaves, and slightly smaller drupe. It is said to occur in the Philippine Islands.
