smaller and on shorter peduncles. Sepals linear-subulate. Petals much longer, subulate-ianceolate, broad at the base and then narrowed into long acuminate points. Capsules erect or inclined, ½ in. diam., broadly ovoid or obovoid, 3-valved; valves orange-yellow inside.—Precur. n. 616; Raoul, Choix de Plantes, 48; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 23; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 21; Kirk, Students' Fl. 49.
North Island: From the North Cape to Wellington; abundant in the north, often local to the south of Hawke's Bay. South Island: Pelorus Sound and Titi Island, J. Rutland! Sea-level to 2800 ft. June–September.
This is a common plant in the forests of the Auckland District, growing intermixed with other epiphytes on the trunks and branches of the rata {Metrosideros robusta) and other large forest trees.
17. P. pimeleoides, R. Cunn. ex A. Cunn. Precur. n. 618.—A small slender much-branched shrub 1–5 ft. in height; branchlets usually numerous, almost filiform, pilose when young. Leaves numerous, crowded or whorled, very variable in size and shape, ½–1½ in. long, 110–13 in. broad, linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong, acute or acuminate, rarely obtuse, entire or rarely obscurely crenulate, patent or reflexed, somewhat membranous. Flowers small, yellow-red, in terminal 2-8-flowered umbels or solitary, unisexual; males larger, more numerous, and on longer peduncles than the females; peduncles slender, silky-pilose. Sepals subulate, acuminate. Petals more than twice as long as the sepals, very narrow, linear-acuminate. Ovary silky. Capsules on short erect peduncles, ovoid, acuminate, almost beaked, 2-valved.—Raoul, Choix de Plantes, 48; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 24; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 21; Kirk, Students' Fl. 49. P. crenulatum, Putterlich, Syn. Pittosp. 15.
Var. major.—Branches few, slender. Leaves in distant whorls, elliptical or elliptical-obovate, ¾–1½ in. long, ½ in. broad. Capsule rather larger.
Var. reflexum, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 24.—Leaves smaller, crowded, linear or linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 112–18 in. broad.—P. reflexum, R. Cunn. l.c. n. 617; Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 19. P. radicans, R. Cunn. l.c. n. 619. P. Gilliesianum, Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. i. (1868) 143.
North Island: North Cape (var. major), T. F. C.; near Mongonui, Kirk! T. F. C., R. H. Matthews! Whangaroa, R. Cunningham, Kawakawa River, Bay of Islands, R. Cunningham, Sir J. D. Hooker, Kirk! March–May.
Easily recognised by its small size and slender habit, narrow leaves, terminal umbels of yellow-red flowers, and small-beaked capsules. The var. reflexum was restored as a distinct species in the Handbook, but is certainly not entitled to more than varietal rank. Both at Mongonui and Kawakawa it grows intermixed with the typical pimeleoides, together with numerous intermediate forms.
18. P. eugenioides, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 614.—A small branching round-headed tree 20–40 ft. high, perfectly glabrous except a few silky hairs on the branches of the inflorescence; trunk 1–2 ft. diam.; bark pale. Leaves alternate or almost whorled, 2–4 in.
