Suckling. — Leaf-anatomy of Trees and Shrubs on Port Hills. 183 



cuticle. This leaf might easily be taken as a typical mesophytic leaf. The 

 leaf of Tetrapathaea australis is very similar to that of the former in 

 essential ecological characters. It also has crystals of calcium oxalate in 

 the mesophyll ; but this point is more of morphological interest, common 

 in the family to which it belongs. The cuticle is not quite so thick as in 

 Parsonsia. (See figs. 1,2, and 3.) 



Fuchsia excorticata Linn. f. 



Fuchsia excorticata Linn. f. is very abundant, and is found in all 

 stations, out in the open and in the thick bush, in the latter case often 

 forming a much larger tree than it ever does in exposed positions. It often 

 roots amongst rocks, the roots growing along close to the rock and fastening 



Fig. 4. — T.S. through the leaf of Fuchsia excorticata, passing through 



the midrib ; x 60. 



in the crevices. In habit it is somewhat peculiar, the trunk being often 

 almost quite horizontal for some distance, very irregular, and much 

 branched, sometimes over 3 m. round at the base. Leaves, which are 

 silvery underneath because chlorophyll is absent in the spongy parenchyma, 

 are lost in May, and appear in August, which is also the beginning of the 

 flowering season. 



