North and South Islands: From the North Cape to Foveaux Strait, not uncommon. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Aka-kiore. November–March.
Easily separated from the preceding by the smaller campanulate flowers with a short tube and exserted anthers. Forster's diagnosis, and A. Eichard's description, drawn up from some of Forster's own specimens, prove beyond doubt that this species is the original Periploca capsularis. There seems to be no sufficient reason for sinking the specific name in favour of the much later one bestowed by Raoul.
Order XLIX. LOGANIACEÆ.
Herbs, shrubs, or trees. Leaves opposite, usually connected by interpetiolar stipules or by a raised line, simple, entire or toothed. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual by abortion. Calyx inferior, 4–5-lobed or -partite; lobes valvate or imbricate or contorted. Stamens 4–5, inserted on the tube of the corolla and alternate with its lobes; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary superior, 2-celled or rarely 3–5-celled; style simple; stigma capitate or 2-lobed; ovules 1 or more in each cell. Fruit a 2-celled capsule with septicidal dehiscence or an indehiscent berry. Seeds 1 or more to each cell; albumen copious; embryo straight, long or short.
Distribution chiefly tropica! and subtropical, with a few species in temperate North America and in the south temperate zone. Genera 30; species about 350. The order must be considered a dangerous one, including a large proportion of highly poisonous plants. Strychnine is obtained from the seed of Strychnos nux-vomica, a common Indian tree; and a substance called curare, derived from the bark of two species of Strychnos, is used by the South American Indians to poison their arrows.
| Herbs. Flowers 4-merous. Corolla-lobes valvate. Capsule didymous, truncate or 2-lobed | 1. Mitrasacme. |
| Herbs or shrubs. Flowers 5-merous. Corolla-lobes imbricate. Capsule ovoid or oblong | 2. Logania. |
| Shrubs. Flowers 5-merous. Corolla-lobes contorted. Placentas forming a pulpy mass enclosing the seeds | 3. Geniostoma. |
1. MITRASACME, Labill.
Herbs, generally of small size. Leaves opposite, entire, usually connected by a transverse stipular line or short sheath. Flowers small, either solitary in the upper axils or in clusters or irregular umbels. Calyx campanulate, 4-partite or rarely 2-partite. Corolla campanulate or salver-shaped; lobes 4, valvate. Stamens 4, affixed to the corolla-tube; filaments usually short; anthers included or rarely exserted. Ovary 2-celled; styles 2, usually connate at first, but separating from the base upwards as the flowering advances; stigma capitate or 2-lobed; ovules numerous in each cell, affixed to peltate placentas. Capsule subglobose or ovoid or compressed, truncate or 2-lobed or almost 2-horned at the tip, opening along the inner margin of the carpels. Seeds numerous, subglobose or compressed; testa smooth, reticulate.
