THE STOKY OF SOME COMMON PLANTS. 137 



CHAPTER X. 



THE STORY OF SOME COMMON PLANTS. 



Relationships of the cabbage-tree How gravity affects direction of growth- 

 Fertilisation and seed-dispersal Distribution of the cabbage-tree Use of 

 the tree in Maori times The species of Phormium The diverse stations of 

 Phormium Fertilisation by birds The leaves of New Zealand flax Use of 

 flax by the Maoris Garden varieties of Phormium Diseases. 



Ix the previous chapters a general account of the vegetation has 

 been given rather than details as to special plants. In this and the 

 chapter following a few of the commonest plants are dealt with, and 

 something is told of their story, which, however, as yet is far from 

 being a complete one. 



THE CABBAGE-TREE. 



The cabbage-tree (Cordyline australis] is a most familiar feature 

 in almost any New Zealand landscape, while it is also a favourite 

 adornment of gardens, supplying there a special beauty of form gene- 

 rally lacking in the temperate vegetation. 



But. although the plant in question is known so well, it may yet be 

 news to some that it is no relative of the wholesome vegetable whose 



O 



name it bears. It. on the contrary, belongs to the same family as tin- 

 Madonna lily, the hyacinth, and the tulip ; or. if we must seek its 

 relations below stairs, then to the onion, the garlic, and the shalot. 

 whilst amongst its first cousins it boasts such useful members of society 



/ 



as aloes, squills, and sarsaparilla. Now, it is the structure of the 

 flowers which places it in this most distinguished company, the outer 

 floral leaves being united at the base,* but divided above into six 

 segments, the stamens also six in number ; while the central portion 

 of the flower, which finally contains the seeds, is three-chambered. 

 At the same time, it differs from most of its kith and kin in its posses- 

 sion of a tall, erect trunk, being, in fact, a tree- or palm-lily, this latter 



* The coloured leaves of the flower in the lily family are in two series, and 

 in certain of the aenera are not united below into a tube. 



