Manual of the New Zealand Flora/Loganiaceæ
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.
A genus of about 30 species, chiefly Australian, but extending northwards into tropical Asia and southwards to New Zealand.
| Leaves linear-oblong, ending in a stout bristle | 1. M. novæ-zealandiæ. |
| Leaves narrow-obovate, obtuse | 2. M. montana. |
M. Hookeri, M. Cheesemanii, and M. Petriei, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst, xiv. (1882) 348, 349, are species of Veronica, and will be found described under that genus.
1. M. novæ-zealandiæ, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 737.—A small moss-like densely tufted perfectly glabrous herb, forming rounded patches an inch or two in diameter; branches short, slender, densely compacted. Leaves connate at the base, densely imbricated, 110–18 in. long, linear-oblong, suddenly narrowed at the tip into a stout bristle, quite entire, rather coriaceous, concave, nerveless; margins conspicuously thickened. Flowers solitary, terminal, minute, almost concealed by the leaves. Calyx-segments like the leaves. Corolla short and broad; lobes 4, short, obtuse. Stamens 4; filaments very short; anthers broadly obiong, didymous, included. Styles short, free. Capsule oblong, coriaceous, 2-valved at the tip, the valves pointing outwards.
South Island: Canterbury—Hill's Peak, Cockayne! Otago— Dusky Bay, on the mountains, Hector aud Buchanan. Stewart Island: Frazer Peaks, Rakiahua, Smith's Lookout, Kirk! 800–4500 ft.
Mr. Cockayne's specimens have narrower leaves with shorter bristle-points, and may prove to be a distinct species.
2. M. montana, Hook. f. Fl. Tasm. i. 274, t. 88 C, var. Helmsii, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxii. (1890) 445, t. 32.—A small perfectly glabrous perennial herb, forming depressed matted patches 1–3 in. diam. Stems slender, 1–2 in. high; branches weak, straggling. Leaves crowded towards the tips of the branches, opposite, ⅛–⅙ in. long, obovate or obovate-oblong, narrowed into short flat petioles or rarely sessile, quite entire, glabrous, rather thick and fleshy, veinless, margins flat. Flowers solitary, terminal, sessile, almost concealed by the leaves. Calyx deeply 4-partite; segments equal, lanceolate, acute. Corolla-tube broad; lobes short, acute, not one-half the length of the tube. Anthers nearly sessile on the throat of the corolla, broadly ovate. Ovary ovoid; styles 2, quite free but connivent. Capsule small, compressed, 2-lobed. the outer angles produced into curved beaks.
South Island: Westland—Paparoa Range, alt. 3000 ft., R. Helms!
This appears to differ from the type, which is a native of Tasmania, in the more slender habit, usually petiolate leaves, terminal sessile flowers, and 2-lobed capsule. It will probably prove to be a distinct species.
2. LOGANIA, R. Br.
Herbs or small shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire, usually connected by a transverse raised stipular line or short sheath, rarely with minute setaceous stipules. Flowers small, often unisexual, in terminal or axillary cymes or solitary. Calyx 5-partite. Corolla campanulate or with a cylindrical tube; lobes 5, rarely 4, spreading, imbricate. Stamens 5, rarely 4, inserted on the corollatube; filaments filiform; anthers included or exserted. Ovary 2-celled; style smiple; stigma capitate or oblong; ovules usually several in each cell. Capsule oblong-ovoid or globose, obtuse or shortly acuminate, septicidally 2-valved, valves 2-fid, at length separating from the placentas. Seeds ovoid or more or less peltate.
Species 18, all confiued to Australia except the following one, which is very imperfectly known, and may not belong to the genus. L. tetragona, Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 188, and L. ciliolata, Hook. f. l.c. 737, have been proved to be species of Veronica, and are now known as V. dasyphylla and V. Gilliesiana, Kirk. L. Armstrongii, Buch. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xiv. (1882) 347, t 28, f. 8, is Veronica uniflora, Kirk, which see.
1. L. depressa, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 177.—"A prostrate rigid woody shrub; branches densely interlaced, puberulous. Leaves ⅙–¼ in. long, coriaceous, veinless, linear-obovate or oblong, obtuse. Flowers minute, axillary, pedicelled, bracteate, solitary or in 3–5-flowered panicles, male only seen. Sepals oblong, obtuse, ciliate. Corolla scarcely longer than the calyx; lobes rounded. Filaments slender; anthers large, 2-cleft for half-way up. Ovary imperfect in my specimens (which are probably unisexual); style short, clavate; stigma oblong, thick. Fruit unknown."—Handb. N.Z. Fl. 188.
"North Island: Ruahine Mountains, Colenso. Very closely allied to the L. fasciculata, F. Muell., of the Australian Alps. Habit of an alpine Coprosma."
This is unknown to me, not having been collected since its discovery more than fifty years ago. I have consequently reproduced the description given by Hooker in the Handbook. Mr. N. E. Brown, who at my request has examined the type specimen in the Kew Herbarium, says, "This appears to be a true Logania, but the specimen has male flowers only, which have a regular 5-lobed corolla bearded at the throat and 5 stamens alternating with the corolla-lobes, affixed near the base of the corolla-tube; filaments filiform; anthers slightly exserted."
3. GENIOSTOMA, Forst.
Glabrous shrubs. Leaves opposite, connected by a transverse line or short sheath. Flowers small, in opposite axillary cymes or clusters. Calyx 5-partite; segments acute. Corolla campanulate or almost rotate; lobes 5, spreading, imbricate, usually contorted in the bud. Stamens 5, afifixed to the tube or throat of the corolla; filaments short; anthers included or exserted. Ovary 2-celled; style simple; stigma capitate or oblong; ovules numerous in each cell. Capsule globose or oblong, septicidally 2-valved; valves separating from the consolidated placentas and axis. Seeds numerous, small, enveloped by the persistent placentas.
Species about 20, ranging from Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Malay Archipelago to Australia, the Pacific islands, and New Zealand. The single species found in New Zealand is endemic.
1. G. ligustrifolium, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 401.—A perfectly glabrous much-branched shrub 4–12 ft. high; branches slender, terete. Leaves 1½–3 in. long, ovate or elliptic-ovate, acuminate, shortly petiolate, membranous, quite entire, paler beneath, veins conspicuous. Flowers in short axillary corymbs or fascicles, ⅛–⅙ in. diam., greenish-white; pedicels bracteolate. Calyx-lobes ovate, acuminate, ciliolate. Corolla rotate -campanulate; tube short; lobes spreading or reflexed, bearded within. Ovarv subglobose; style very short; stigma 2-lobed. Capsule ⅕ in. diam., subglobose, mucronate, splitting into 2 boat-shaped valves. Seeds numerous; testa brown, pitted.—Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 430; Raoul, Choix, 44; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 177; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 189. G. rupestre, A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 207 (not of Forst.).
Var. major, Cheesem.—Leaves larger, 2½–5 in. long.
Var. crassum, Cheesem. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxix. (1897) 392.—Leaves smaller and broader, ½–¾ in. long by ⅓–⅔ in. broad, broadly ovate or orbicularovate, subacute, rather thick and fleshy when fresh.
North Island: Abundant in lowland situations from the North Cape to Cook Strait. South Island: Marlborough, Buchanan. Hangehange. September–November. Var. major: Three Kings Islands, abundant, T. F. C. Var. crassum: Cliffs near the North Cape, rare, T. F. C.