Kermadec Islands, North and South Islands, Chatham Islands: Abundant in lowland districts as far south as Foveaux Strait. Poporo; Poroporo; Kohoho. Flowers most of the year.
Also common in many parts of Australia and Tasmania, and in Norfolk Island. The fruit is edible, and was made into jam by the early colonists.
Order LIV. SCROPHULARINEÆ.
Herbs or shrubs, rarely small trees. Lower leaves usually opposite, upper alternate, or all opposite oi' all alternate; stipules wanting. Flowers generally irregular, hermaphrodite. Calyx inferior, persistent, 4-5-toothed or -lobed, sometimes of 5 free sepals. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous, commonly 2-lipped but sometimes almost regular, 4–5-lobed; lobes imbricate in bud. Stamens inserted on the tube of the corolla, either 2, or 4 in 2 pairs, 2 long and 2 short (didynamous), sometimes the rudiment of a fifth stamen is present or rarely all five are present and perfect; anthers 1–2-celled, cells distinct or confluent. Ovary superior, 2-celled; style simple; stigma entire, 2-lobed or 2-lamellate; ovules usually numerous in each cell, anatropous or amphitropous, placentas afifixed to the septum. Fruit a 2-celled many-seeded capsule, rarely an indehiscent berry. Seeds small, generally numerous, various in form; albumen fleshy, seldom wanting; embryo straight or rarely curved.
A large order, scattered over the whole world, but far better represented in temperate regions or in mountainous districts than in very warm climates. Genera about 160; species estimated at 2000. The medicinal properties of the order are very various. A few species are purgative, others are astringent or tonic, a far greater number are acrid and bitter or even poisonous. The foxglove (Digitalis) is the only one largely used medicinally, although many others are occasionally employed. The family contains many handsome garden-plants, especially of the genera Calceolaria, Antirrhinum, Pentstemon, Mimulus, Digitalis, and Veronica. Of the 11 genera found in New Zealand, 2, Anagosperma and Siphonidium, are endemic; Calceolaria occurs elsewhere only in South America; Ourisia is also mainly South American, but extends to Tasmania as well; Glossostigma is confined to Australia and New Zealand. The remaining 6 have a wide distribution in both temperate and tropical regions.
| A. Antirrhinidæ. Upper lip (or two upper lobes) of the corolla always outside the others in bud. | |
| * Stamens 2. | |
| Calyx 4-partite. Corolla 2-lipped, lips inflated | 1. Calceolaria. |
| Calyx 5-partite. Corolla 2-lipped, lips not inflated | 4. Gratiola. |
| ** Stamens 4. | |
| Flowers axillary in the New Zealand species. Calyx 5-angled and -toothed. Corolla 2-lipped. Stigma 2 lamellate | 2. Mimulus. |
| Flowers in terminal racemes. Calyx 5-partite, not angled. Corolla 2-lipped. Stigma 2-lamellate | 3. Mazus. |
| Flowers axillary, solitary. Calyx 3–4-lobed. Corolla nearly regular. Stigma spathulate | 5. Glossostigma. |
| Flowers axillary. Calyx 5 - toothed. Corolla rotate. Stigma clavate | 6. Limosella. |
