7. M. divaricata, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 406.—A much-branched shrub 4–12 ft. high, with the habit of a small-leaved Coprosma; bark rough, dark-brown; branches spreading, rigid, interlaced, often deflexed at the tips; branchlets usually pubescent. Leaves alternate or fascicled on short lateral branchlets, small, spreading, ¼–½ in. long, broadly obovate or obcordate, obtuse or retuse or 2-lobed at the tip, narrowed into a short petiole, coriaceous, glabrous, glandular-dotted, veins reticulated on both surfaces, cuticle often wrinkled beneath when dry; margins flat or slightly recurved, ciliate when young. Flowers in few-flowered fascicles or solitary, minute, 112–110 in. diam. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes ovate, obtuse. Petals 4 (rarely 5), quite free, obovate, revolute. Anthers almost as large as the petals. Style short; stigma capitate, lobed or crenate. Fruit depressed-globose, ⅙ in. diam., purplish.—Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184. M. pendula, Col. in. Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxi. (1889) 94. Suttonia divaricata, Hook. f. Fl. Antarct. i. 51, t. 34; Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 173; Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 334.
North and South Islands, Stewart Island, Auckland and Campbell Islands: From Kaitaia and Mongonui southwards, but local to the north of the Waikato Kiver. Sea-level to 4000 ft. August–October.
A very variable plant, but easily recognised by its mode of growth, which much resembles that of a small-leaved Coprosma.
8. M. nummularia, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 184.—A very small prostrate or trailing shrub, with slender straggling branches 4–18 in. long; bark dark red-brown. Leaves small, spreading, ¼–⅓ in. long, broadly oblong or obovate to orbicular, obtuse or minutely apiculate, shortly petiolate, coriaceous, glabrous, finely reticulated above, often wrinkled beneath, dotted with numerous rounded pellucid glands; margins slightly recurved, ciliate when young. Flowers minute, solitary or in fascicles of 2 or 3, axillary or on the branches below the leaves. Calyx very small, 4-lobed; lobes ovate, obtuse. Petals 4, quite free, obovate, concave, ciliate. Anthers almost as large as the petals. Female flowers smaller than the males. Ovary conical, narrowed above; stigma large, irregularly lobed or expanded. Fruit globose, ⅕–¼ in. diam., bluish-purple.—Suttonia nummularia, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 173, t, 45; Mez in Pflanzenreich, Heft 9, 335.
North Island: Ruapehu, Petrie! Rev. F. H. Spencer! Ruahine Range and Lake Rotoatara, Colenso! Upper Rangitikei, Buchanan! South Island: Mountainous districts from Nelson to Foveaux Strait, but not very common. Stewart Island: Mount Anglem, Kirk! 2000–5000 ft. December–January.
Order XLVI. SAPOTACEÆ.
Trees or shrubs, often with milky juice. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, entire; stipules usually wanting. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or occasionally polygamous, axillary, solitary or
