Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 207 



Wliare-kaka. 



Wheki. Dicksonia squamosa. 



Wheki. A plant, 



Whereki. The large introduced strawberry. 



Wi. A generic term for several coarse grasses, &c. 



Whiri-o-raukatauri. Lyco podium Billardieri. 



Whiri-o-raukatauri. Asplenium flaccidum. 



Whvi. Severed species of rushes (J uncus). 



The above are the items of the sylva and flora of the Tuhoe 

 district of which the Native names have been obtained. There 

 are many others, principally small plants, &c, which we do 

 not here enumerate, as this paper is one dealing with Maori 

 lore, not with that of the scientific botanist. 



" The aka (climbing-plants) which cling to trees- — these are 

 the things with which Tangaroa is captured. Hence they are 

 used as a means to slay Tangaroa." So sayeth the Maori, 

 meaning that eel-pots are constructed of stems of climbing- 

 plants, and of thin roots. 



The aka kopu kereru is the small green-flowered Clematis. 



The oka-tea has a very light-coloured bark, and is extremely 

 durable, hence it is much used for lashing palisades, fences, &c. 



The poananga makes a brave show in some parts of the 

 Rua-tahuna district when in flower. The masses of white blos- 

 soms are seen on the tops of lofty trees, though more numerous 

 among second-growth timber at deserted cultivations. 



The ngakau kiore is more generally found in scrub and fern 

 country, where its small yellowish- green flowers are not very 

 conspicuous. 



The sap of the aka-kura is applied by the Natives to the 

 eyes in cases of inn animation. 



The kahia, with its orange-coloured fruit and handsome 

 foliage, is here frequently seen. The stem of this climber was 

 formerly much used as a firestick by travelling parties. It was 

 cut green and allowed to become [quite dry. One end being set 

 fire to, it was carried in the hand, and would smoulder like punk. 



The ake is not often seen in Tuhoeland. The most reliable 

 war weapons were fashioned from this timber. A grove of 

 ake trees near Te Onepu, on the Whirinaki River, is known as 

 Te Hokowhitu a Ngai-Tawha. 



The awanga, or aoanga, is a variegated variety of Phormium 

 tenax. 



The hakeka, hakeke, or keka is the fungus of commerce. It 

 grows principally upon dead logs and stumps of karaka, pukatea, 

 taua, mahoe, and kaiwhiria, and not upon the living trees. It 

 appears to reach a matured state about two years after the 

 trees have been felled. After that time the quantity on such 

 timber seems to decrease. 



