Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 223 



wai haihua, ka kiia he rarangi tahi." Another old saying is, 

 " Kei whawhati noa mai te rau o te rata," which Sir George Grey 

 translates as, " Do not fly into a passion (get red in the face) 

 for no cause, like the wind scattering the rata blossom." 

 Colenso gives it as meaning, " Don't pluck and fling about to 

 no purpose the blossoms of the rata " ; hence, " Don't become 

 ashamed when your lying is detected." The rata trees of 

 terrestrial origin I have seen only on high ranges in this district, 

 while those of epiphytic origin are seen on sidelings and lower 

 ground. The former furnish the more solid trunk to the splitter 

 or sawyer, save in cases when the latter develops but a single 

 aerial root. 



The names raukatauri and whirl- o-raukata-uri seem to be 

 applied to several species of Lycopodium. 



The inner part of the roots (karito) of the raupo were formerly 

 eaten, and a kind of bread was made from its seeds (tahuna, 

 tahune, hum). 



The rau-tawhiri is said to have been so named because 

 branches thereof were used as tawhiri — green branchlets carried 

 in the hand and waved during the ceremonies of receiving and 

 welcoming visitors. It is known among some tribes as kowhiwhi, 

 and is often termed " silverleaf " by settlers. 



The rerewai, an aquatic plant, is seen in ponds and other 

 placid waters. Its leaves have a very pretty effect as seen 

 floating on the surface of such waters. 



Tne kohuwai is apparently a kind of aquatic moss, while 

 retoreto seems to be the name of the duckweed. 



Tne rewarewa tree is very common in some parts of Tuhoe- 

 land. Its flowers are termed rewa (He rewarewa te tinana, he 

 rewa nga pua). 



Tne rirnu tree is also of common occurrence, much more so 

 than the rewarewa in the higher-lying districts. 



The taihinu is seen only in river-beds in the lower parts of 

 their courses. 



The tamatea is found in swampy places in open country, 

 and is used as thatch for huts. 



Tne tanguru grows among fern and scrub, often on steep, 

 rocky hillsides. Its aromatic leaves (? young leaves) were 

 gathered by the exquisites of Maoriland, as also were those of 

 the kotara, ko-areare, &c. 



The tangaru-rake is said to be a species found growing on the 

 summits of high ranges, where scrub alone prevails. 



The tapairu (Senecio Kirkii) is found on the ranges of the 

 interior, growing as an epiphyte, and also in a terrestrial form. 

 The white blossoms of the former are very conspicuous in the 

 forest. 



