N.Z. Inst. i (1869) 149. Lampocarya xanthocarpa, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 278. Cladium xanthocarpum, F. Muell. Fragm. Phyt. Austral. ix. 13.
North Island: Not uncommon in forests throughout. South Island: Marlborough—J. Rutland! Nelson—Motueka Valley, T.F.C; Westport, Townson! Westland—Hokitika, Kirk! Canterbury—Haast, Armstrong. Sea-level to 2500 ft. February–March.
The finest species of the genus, at once identified by its large size, enormous panicles, and large black nut. Also recorded from Lord Howe Island.
5. G. robusta, T. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xxvi. (1894) 261.—Stems robust, as thick as the little finger, 6–7 ft. high. Leaves almost as long as the stems, involute, with scabrid margins and long filiform points. Panicle large, 2–3 ft. long, dense, narrow, erect; branches 5–10 in. long, strict, erect; bracts leafy, with long filiform points. Spikelets crowded, dark-brown or almost black, 2-flowered; lower flower male, upper hermaphrodite and fruit-bearing. Glumes usually 7; the 4 outer empty, subequal, awned; the 3 inner small in the flowering stage, but enlarged in fruit, concave, coriaceous, obtuse. Stamens 4–6 in each flower, elongated in fruit. Style-branches 2–4. Nut small, ⅙–⅕ in. long, elliptic-obovoid, black when fully ripe, transversely grooved within.
North Island: Wellington—Mungaroa, Kirk! March.
My knowledge of this plant is confined to the specimens in Mr. Kirk's herbarium. These greatly resemble G. rigida, but the plant is said to be much larger, and the nut to be always black when fully ripe.
6. G. procera, Forst. Char. Gen. 52.—Stems stout, densely tufted, 2–4 ft. high. Leaves equalling or exceeding the stems, narrowed into long filiform points; margins involute, smooth below, scabrid above; sheaths dark-brown or almost black. Panicle slender, lax but narrow, elongate, 12–18 in. long; branches often remote, short, erect or slightly drooping in fruit; bracts leafy, with purplish-black sheaths. Spikelets scattered along the branches or clustered towards their tips, large, ⅓–½ in. long, dark purplish-black, 2-flowered; lower flower male, upper hermaphrodite and fruit-bearing. Glumes 4; 2 outer empty, very large and exceeding the spikelet, elliptic-lanceolate, mucronate, striate; 2 inner shorter, oblong-lanceolate, obtuse. Stamens usually 4 to each flower; filaments elongating greatly in fruit. Style-branches 4. Nut large, ¼ in. long, narrow-elliptic, smooth and shining, obscurely grooved, reddish-brown or reddish-yellow when ripe, transversely grooved within.—A. Rich, Fl. Nouv. Zel. 112; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 284; Raoul, Choix, 40; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 278; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 306.
