820 Transactions, — Botany. 



Poisons. 

 There are few poisonous plants in this part of the colony. 



TuPAKiHi, or Tutu (Coriaria ruscifolia). 



As cultivation and cattle spread, this plant is rapidly dis- 

 appeai'ing. The juice of the fruit, strained free from the seed, 

 is sweet and luscious and can be taken with impunity. The 

 seeds are noxious. Their effect on the human subject is 

 rigidity of the spine and neck, discolouration of the face, fixity 

 of the eyes and general tremor. If emetics be administered 

 cases are seldom fatal. 



Cattle suffer from eating the young shoots, more especially 

 hungry working bullocks. The effects are a temporary frenzy, 

 a disposition to rush at any object, staggering and falling. If 

 the animal can be approached, bleeding fi-om the ear gives 

 relief. 



Sheep are very fond of the leaves ; but as they eat deli- 

 berately, and walk as they eat, they suffer little. When a sheep 

 is attacked by eating too much tutu, it rushes a dozen steps 

 with protruded head, stops, staggers, and falls. Kaising the 

 head above the spine, and keeping it steady for a minute or two 

 gives relief, and the animal resumes its usual quiet state. 



A carefully-prepared paper on the poisonous principles of 

 this plant, by Mr. Skey, will be found in " Trans. N.Z. Inst," 

 vol. ii., p. 153; and, in the same volume, p. 399, an account by 

 Dr. Haast of an elephant being poisoned by eating tutu. 



It is possible that the poison of the seeds might be used in 

 destroying vermin, flies, and insects. As it affects the brain, 

 its effects are probably painless. 



Wharangi, or Pukapuka [Brachyglottis repanda). 



This shrub is seldom eaten by cattle or sheep, but horses are 

 fond of it. Its effects are staggering of the legs, and falling. 

 It is often fatal ; after death the body is much distended. 

 The only cure known as yet is to keep the animal moving, or 

 burning rags under its nose. 



Kaeaka {^Corynocarpus laviyata). 



Leaves and twigs are valuable forage for cattle. The peri- 

 carpium of the fruit is nutritious. The kernels of the seed are 

 exceedingly poisonous, producing convulsions, and sometimes 

 permanent distortion of the limbs. A graphic account of its 

 effects is given by Mr. Colenso in Mr. Skey's paper, vol. iv., 

 p. 316, of our " Transactions." 



Cooked and steeped in water for several weeks, these kernels 

 formed a part of Maoris' diet, and probably were nutritious. 

 As the ripe berries fall from the trees they are greedily con- 

 sumed by cattle. Mr. Palmer, of Awhitu, writes to me : " After 



