South Island: Nelson—Wakamarina Ranges, near Collingwood; Anatori Ranges; Heaphy River, W. S. Hayward! J. Ball! Buller Valley, Nine-mile Creek, R. J. Kingsley! Mount Rochfort, not uncommon, altitude 1000–2500 ft., W. Townson! Sea-level to 3000 ft. December–January.
A very handsome plant, which has the most restricted range of any of the New Zealand species.
4. M. albiflora, Sol. ex Gærtn. Fruct. i. 172, t. 34, f. 11.—A much-branched woody climber, glabrous in all its parts; branchlets terete, slender, often drooping. Leaves decussate, 1½–3½ in. long, elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-ovate, acute or acuminate, glossy above, very coriaceous, narrowed at the base into a short stout petiole. Flowers white, in terminal much-branched paniculate cymes; pedicels pubescent. Calyx narrow-campanulate or almost tubular; lobes 5, ovate, obtuse, persistent. Petals exceeding the calyx-lobes, white, orbicular. Stamens and style filiform, ½–¾ in. long. Ovary adnate to the base of the calyx, 3-celled. Capsule ¼–⅓ in. long, splitting to the base into 3 valves when mature, urceolate, globose and 3-lobed below, crowned by the much narrower tubular calyx, the lobes of which are sharply refiexed at the top.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 71; Kirk, Students' Fl. 161. M. diffusa, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 560 (not of Smith); Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 569.
North Island: Forests from Mongonui and Hokianga southwards to the East Cape, but often local. Ascends to 2800 ft. December–January.
A very handsome species, easily recognised by the large broad leaves and large panicles of white flowers.
5. M. diffusa, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. (1797) 268.—A tall and stout woody climber reaching the tops of the highest trees; young branchlets, inflorescence, and calyces pubescent or setose. Leaves ¾–1½ in. long, very shortly petioled, elliptic-oblong or ovate-oblong or ovate, obtuse or subacute, very coriaceous. Flowers very abundantly produced, bright-crimson, in terminal or rarely axillary much-branched cymes. Calyx-tube narrow-oblong, suddenly expanded into a broad cup-shaped limb; lobes 5, broadly oblong, persistent. Petals orbicular, shortly clawed; margins usually fimbriate or jagged. Ovary wholly adnate to the base of the calyx-tube. Capsule ⅓ in. long, globose, rather coriaceous, 3- or 6-ribbed, 3-celled, loculicidally dehiscing to the base, crowned by the short cup-shaped calyx-limb.—Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 67; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 71; Kirk, Students' Fl. 161.
North Island: Not uncommon in forests from Mongonui and Ahipara to the East Cape and Taranaki. Sea-level to 2000 ft. September–October.
A most brilliant plant when in full bloom, well worthy of cultivation.
6. M. hypericifolia, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 562.—A climbing shrub; branches slender, spreading, obscurely tetragonous, usually minutely pubescent. Leaves distichous, ⅓–1 in. long, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, acute or apiculate or
