Colenso. — On Clianthus puniceus. 291 



Art. XL VI. — On Clianthus puniceus, Sol. 



By W. Colenso, F.L.S., etc. 



[Read before the Haioke's Bay Philosophical Institute, lith December, 1885.] 



For many years this truly handsome plant has at various times 

 largely occupied my thoughts. Partly from its great beauty and 

 comparative variety ; partly from the large and cosmopolitan 

 Order to which it naturally belongs, Leguminosa, (so common in 

 the neighbouring countries of Australia and Tasmania,) being so 

 poorly represented in New Zealand ; and partly from its genus 

 being small and almost endemic. Indeed, I might go almost a 

 step further, and add, that there is a kind of veil or mystery 

 shrouding it, which hereafter may be clearly explained. In few 

 words, that "mystery" is this : that I have never met with it 

 growing truly wild and common, as all the other indigenous 

 plants are found, although it may have been, like some of our 

 genera, originally confined to one special area. Indeed, I think 

 that, had it not been early raised from seed and generally culti- 

 vated by the colonists, (as well as at Home,) it would very 

 nearly have become extinct, like some other New Zealand plants. 

 And in this respect it seems to me to belong to that small class 

 of esteemed plants that were long and assiduously cultivated by 

 the ancient Maori people — viz. : the Taro (Colocasia antiquorum, 

 Schott.), various sorts; the Kumara, or sweet potato (Ipomcea 

 chrysorhiza), many varieties ; the'Aute (Broussonetia papyri/era), 

 Paper Mulberry ; the Tamure, or Awauga (Phormium colensoi), 

 var., striped New Zealand Flax ; and the Tipara (Cordyline, 

 sp. undescribed), Broad : leaved Cabbage-tree. In one or two 

 points, however, the Clianthus differs widely from them: (1) 

 It bears seed abundantly ; and, (2), it flourishes in almost all 

 spots where it has been planted. Yet, in connection with 

 this, I may observe that, although I have not unfrequently 

 noticed a large shrub of Clianthus bearing hundreds of fruitful 

 pods of seeds, that were left on the plant to ripen, burst, and 

 fall to the ground, I have scarcely seen an instance of any 

 of those many seeds springing spontaneously from beneath or 

 around the parent plant ; and this great peculiarity obtains 

 also in a large measure among the Phormium species. 



On my arrival in New Zealand, (Bay of Islands, 1834,) I 

 first saw this fine plant in full bloom in the gardens of the 

 missionaries ; naturally 1 was struck with its imposing appear- 

 ance, as I had never seen it, nor anything like it, before ; indeed 

 at that time it was scarcely known at Home. I very soon 

 cultivated it in my own garden. In all my travels at the North, 

 extending over several years, and crossing and recrossing the 

 country in all directions, I never met with the Clianthus growing 



