i 54 Transactions. — Botany . 



fond of secluding itself in the recesses of the forest as the nikau, 

 and often flourishes in the open, exposed to both sun and wind. 

 On some terraces of rich volcanic soil on the northern side of 

 the island it forms large groves, to the exclusion of almost all 

 other trees. I was surprised at the deepness of the shade in 

 these groves — one would have thought that such a gloom could 

 only have been produced by the overlapping branches and foliage 

 of tall forest trees. 



A fine tree-fern (Cyathea milnei), which is peculiar to the 

 island, is also very plentiful, especially towards the tops of the 

 hills, and in all the ravines. It is often 50 or 60 feet in height, 

 and is thus quite equal in stature to our Cyathea medullaris, 

 which it much resembles. 



Two common New Zealand trees, the well-known karaka 

 (Corynocarjms Imvigatus) and the ngaio (Myoporum lot/urn) are 

 abundant, especially near the sea. The last mentioned is much 

 more variable in the shape of its leaves than is usual in New 

 Zealand. Abandoned cultivations are soon overrun with it. 

 Other trees of frequent occurrence are the wharangi (Melicope 

 ternata), maboe (Melicytus ramifiorus), tupaki {Coriaria rusci- 

 folia), and the whau-wkau-paku (Panax arboreum), all of them 

 familiar plants to the New Zealand botanist. The kawakawa or 

 pepper-tree (Fiper excelswn) is also very generally distributed, 

 but it is much more luxuriant, and has much larger leaves and 

 flower-spikes than the New Zealand form, and appears to be 

 certainly worthy of distinction as a sub-species at the least. 



Three trees appear to be confined to the island, and to be 

 found nowhere else : a Coprosma ((.'. acutifolia) allied to our C. 

 tenuifolia, but a more slender plant, with very different inflores- 

 cence ; a new species of Myrsine, not very far removed from the 

 Norfolk Island M. crassifolia, but sufficiently distinct ; and a 

 handsome plant belonging to the Polynesian genus Carumbium. 

 The last mentioned has a most graceful mode of growth, and 

 very handsome foliage. Young trees form slender unbranched 

 rods, 6-15 feet in height, witb large leaves, sometimes 18 inches 

 in diameter. When old, it branches after the manner of some 

 poplars, and the leaves become very much smaller. If hardy 

 in tbis climate, it will prove a very ornamental addition to our 

 gardens. 



The well-known "candle-nut" of Polynesia (Aleurites moluc- 

 cana), a plant common in the tropics of both hemispheres, occurs 

 in a few localities, but is decidedly scarce. A small grove on 

 the north side of the island contains some examples over 60 feet 

 in height, with trunks 3 feet in diameter, but its usual size is 

 rather less than that. The ground underneath the trees is 

 always thickly covered with the fallen nuts. These contain an 

 abundance of fine hard oil, so that in some parts of Polynesia 

 the kernels are strung on a string and lighted as candles. 



