Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand, 213 



This pine is regarded with great esteem by the New Zealanders 

 while growing, and when it has acquired a sufficient magnitude, is 

 felled to construct canoes ; its lightness, toughness, and durability- 

 giving it a higher value than even the Kauri itself. The Totarra is 

 a red pine of stately erect growth, twenty to sixty feet high to the 

 branches, and hence producing excellent spars. The value placed 

 by the natives on this pine, the trunk of which varies in circumfe- 

 rence from six to eighteen feet, is sometimes the occasion of quarrels 

 sufficiently serious to terminate in bloodshed, if it be cut down by 

 any one except the party by whom it is claimed ; for which rea- 

 son a mark is placed on the trunk that it may be known to whom it 

 belongs. The tree is then sufficient to stand till it has acquired a 

 suitable bulk for use, so that it is not unusual for a Totarra to de- 

 scend from the father to the son. 



6. Dacrydium, Soland. and Lamb., Rich. Conif. 



329. D. ? Mai, foliis aversis linearibus obtusis apiculo subcalloso, margi- 

 nibus revolutis, supra laevibus viridibus, subtus glaucis, ramulis adultioribus 

 strictis, junioribus valde virgatis. — Mai or Metai of the natives. 



New Zealand (Northern Island), in forests at some distance from the sea- 

 coast, where it attains the height of eighty feet. — 1826, A. Cunningham. — 

 1834, R. Cunningham. 



A red pine, as dark as cedar. The wood has been found durable, 

 but being brittle it furnishes very indifferent spars. 



330. D. ? plumosum, foliis (ramuli junioris) pectinatis linearibus mucro- 

 nato-aristatis, adultioribus (parvis) compresso-triquetris distichis arete im- 

 bricatis carinatis obtusis supra concavis, ramulis quum complanatis oppo- 

 sitis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — Kawa-ka of the natives, Rev. TV. 

 Yate. 



New Zealand (Northern Island), forests near the Bay of Islands, &c. — 

 1829, G. Bennett.— 1834, R. Cunningham. 



Mr. Yate informs us that it is a tree growing about thirty feet 

 hierh with a diameter of one to three feet. The wood is beau- 

 tifully grained, close and heavy, and would make beautiful picture 

 frames if they were required of a deep stain. It is, however, not 

 much known, and has never as yet been sought after to be applied 

 to any useful purposes. — Yate's New Zealand, p. 45. 



331. D. excelsum, foliis laxe imbricatis subulatis compresso-tetragonis 

 mucronatis glaucis angulis depressis. Don. in Lamb. Pin. ed. 2. App. — 

 Podocarpus dacrydioides. A, Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. p. 358. t. 39. — Kahi-Katea, 

 nom. vernac. 



New Zealand (Northern Island), swampy grounds on the margins of 

 rivers, viz. the Thames, Kana-Kana, and Hokianga. — 1826, A. Cunning- 



