Specimen of the Botany of New Zealand. 261 



PI. i. p. 1 178. Rcem. et Sch. Syst. Veg. v. p. 345. A. Rich. Fl. Nov. Zel. 

 p. 365. — Merretia lucida. Sol. Mss. in BibL Banks. 



Karaka ab incolis vocatur. 



New Zealand (Northern Island). — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. In moist shady 

 woo.ds on the shores of the Bay of Islands.— 1826, A. Cunningham. 



Arbor spectabilis (facie Ardisice) 40-pedalis et altior, ramosa, ramis tere- 

 tibus patentibns, glabriusculis apice foliosis, cortice cinereo-brunneo vestitis. 

 Folia alterna, petiolata, sesquipalmaria (saepe 3-pollices lata) obovata v. 

 ovato-oblonga, obtusa, integerrima, glaberrima, laevia. Panicula terminalis, 

 simplicissima, racemosa. Flores parvi albi pedicellati. Petala 5 erecta, 

 aequalia, concava, calyce paulo majora, ungue angusto. Nectarium (sta- 

 mina sterilia), foliola 5 adscendentia, oblonga, acuta, petalis paulo minora et 

 cum eis alternantia, et singula aucta corpusculo glanduliformi globoso, fere 

 ovarii magnitudine. Ovarium superum globosum. Stylus brevis flliformis. 

 Stigma obtusum. Drupa, . 



Obs. An Myrsineis affine? 



This tree, upon which the eye of the traveller rests with pleasure, 

 by reason of its rich dark glossy leaves and highly ornamental growth, 

 furnishes a plum-like fruit, of which the drupaceous coat being when 

 fully ripened of a sweetish taste, is eaten by the natives. The nut 

 or kernel also, upon being deprived (by steaming and maceration in 

 salt water) of the poisonous property which it is said to possess, is 

 held in considerable estimation by the New Zealanders, who collect 

 and store it for food in seasons of dearth. If eaten without this ne- 

 cessary preparation, the body o'f the person becomes seized with se- 

 vere spasmodic pains and convulsions, from which the sufferer in 

 some cases does not recover, but has been observed to die in great 

 agony in a few hours. The timber is not used for any other purpose 

 than as fire wood, being of short fibre and very soft. 



2. Griseline^e, Forst., Prodr. 

 Flores polygami dioici. Herm. Calyx superus 5-dentatus. Corolla 5- 

 petala. Stamina 5. Styli 3, cylindrici brevissimi, stigmatibus simpli- 

 cibus. Ovarium 3-loculare? loculis 1-ovulatis. Masc. Calyx 5-den- 

 tatus. Corolla 5-petala. Stamina 5. Antherce subrotundse. 

 639. G. lucida. Forst. Prodr. n. 401. Willd. Sp. PL iv. p. 1128. Roam, 

 et Sch. Syst. Fey. vi. p. 641. Spreng. Pngil. i. p. 63. — Scopolia lucida. 

 Forst. Char. Gen. t. 70. 



New Zealand (Northern Island). On the shores of Mercury and Howa- 

 Howa Bays, upon the east coast. — 1769, Sir Jos. Banks. (Middle Island.) 

 — 1773, G. Forster. 



Arbuscula, ramis erectiasculis, ramulis divaricatis sulcatis, cortice fusco- 

 olivaceo tectis. Folia alterna, petiolata, oblonga, coriacea, basi incequalia, 

 hinc attenuata, incle rotundata, integerrima, obtusa, utrinque glabra, supra 

 niti la, subtus opaca venosa, fere spithamaea, palmam lata. Panicula termi- 



