spotted with purple; peduncles ⅓–⅔ in. long. Calyx-segments lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla campanulate; lobes rounded, villous within. Stamens 4, scarcely exserted. Ovary 4-celled. Drupe ¼–⅓ in. long, oblong, succulent, reddish-purple.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 195; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 387; Raoul, Choix, 43; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 204; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 225; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 124. Citharexylum perforatum, Forst. Prodr. sub. n. 238.
Kermadec Islands, Nobth and South Islands, Chatham Islands: Not uncommon in lowland districts as far south as Otago, chiefly near the coast. Ngaio. October–January.
The wood is said to be durable, and is sometimes used for cabinetwork; and an infusion of the leaves has been used as a wash to prevent the bites of mosquitoes.
Order LVIII. VERBENACEÆ.
Herbs or shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite or whorled, very rarely alternate, usually simple (digitate in Vitex); stipules wanting. Flowers generally hermaphrodite, irregular or rarely regular. Calyx inferior, persistent, 4–5-toothed. Corolla gamopetalous, hypogynous; limb 2-lipped or equal, 4–5-lobed, lobes imbricate. Stamens usually 4, didynamous, inserted on the tube of the corolla; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing lengthwise. Ovary superior, entire or shortly 4-lobed, 2–4-celled; style terminal, simple; stigma entire or 2-lobed; ovules solitary or 2 collateral in each cell, erect or ascending. Fruit drupaceous or almost capsular, 2–4-celled (1-celled in Avicennia), indehiscent or the whole fruit or the endocarp alone separating into 2–4 pyrenes. Seeds solitary in each cell, usually erect or ascending; albumen present or wanting; embryo straight, radicle inferior.
A moderately large order, most abundant in the tropics or warm temperate regions of both hemispheres; a few species extend both north and south into cool climates. Genera 60 or thereabouts; species estimated at 700. Bitter or astringent properties predominate in the order, but these can hardly be said to be of medicinal importance. The teak (Tectona grandis), the timber of which is so largely employed for shipbuilding, is the species of most economic importance. The genera Verbena, Lantana, and Clerodendron contain several well-known garden-plants. Of the New Zealand genera, Teucridium is endemic; Vitex is found in nearly all warm countries; while Avicennia is widely spread on most tropical shores.
| Tree. Leaves digitate. Corolla 2-lipped. Fruit a fleshy drupe | 1. Vitex. |
| Slender shrub. Leaves small, entire. Corolla 2-lipped. Fruit separating into 4 pyrenes | 2. Teucridium. |
| Maritime shrub. Leaves entire. Corolla regular. Fruit capsular | 3. Avicennia. |
1. VITEX, Linn.
Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, digitately 3–5-foliolate, very rarely simple. Flowers in axillary or terminal cymes or panicles.
