Metrosideros. | MYRTACE, 163 , 
Fl. t.127; Students’ Fl. 160. M.speciosa, Col.in Trans. N.Z. Inst. 
xxii. (1890) 463. M. aurata, Col. l.c. xxii. (1891) 385. Melaleuca 
florida, Forst. Prodr.n. 214. Leptospermum scandens, Forst. Char. 
Gen. 72. 
NortH anp SourH Istanps: Common from the Three Kings Islands and 
the North Cape to Nelson and Marlborough. Sea-level to 2500 ft. Aka. 
February—June. 
According to Mr. J. W. Hall, the capsules require a whole year to ripen 
their seeds. Mr. Colenso’s M. awrata, which is kept up as a variety by Mr. 
Kirk, only differs in the yellow flowers. It has been noticed in several districts 
from Auckland to Collingwood, but not more than a single specimen has been 
found in each locality. It can only be considered an accidental sport. 
9. M. lucida, A. ftich. Fl. Nowv. Zel. 333.—Usually a tall erect 
branching tree 30-60 ft. high, but often dwarfed to a small bush 
in subalpine or exposed localities; bark pale, papery; branchlets 
and young leaves silky. Leaves 14-3in. long, elliptic-lanceo- 
late or lanceolate, acuminate, very coriaceous, pale glossy-green 
above, dotted with oil-glands beneath, narrowed into a short stout 
petiole. Flowers bright-crimson, in short broad cymes at the ends 
of the branches; peduncles and pedicels short, stout, silky. Calyx 
obconic, silky; lobes 5, ovate, obtuse. Petals oblong, exceeding 
the calyx-lobes. Stamens numerous, lin. long. Ovary sunk in 
the calyx-tube, 3-celled. Capsule 4in. long, coriaceous, broadly 
urceolate, obscurely 5-ribbed, crowned by the persistent cup-shaped 
calyx-limb.—A. Cunn. Precur. n. 561; Raoul, Choix, 49; Hook. f. 
HE ieu. Ze. i. 67: Handb. N.Z. Fle) 3 Bark, Forest Fl. t./58;, 
Students’ Fl. 160. M. umbellata, Cav. Jc. iv. 20, t. 337. Agal- 
manthus umbellatus, Homb. & Jacq. Voy. Astrol. et Zél. 78. Mela- 
leuca lucida, Forst. Prodr. n. 216. 
NortH Istanp: In hilly or mountain districts from Whangarei and 
the Great and Little Barrier Islands southwards, but often local. SoutH 
Isuanp, SrewarT IsLanp, AUCKLAND IsLANDS: Abundant throughout. Camp- 
BELL IsLAND: Rare. Sea-level to 3500 ft. Mouwntain-rata. December— 
January. 
Wood extremely strong, hard, heavy, and durable; useful for shipbuilding, &c. 
3. M. Parkinsonii, Buch. im Trans. N.Z. Inst. xv. (1883) 339, 
t. 28, f. 2.—A much-branched shrub with straggling often prostrate 
branches, or a small tree 20-30 ft. high; trunk seldom more than 
6-9 in. diam. Leaves 1-3 in. long, ovate-lanceolate to oblong-lanceo- 
late or elliptic-ovate, acute or acuminate, rounded at the base, 
coriaceous, quite glabrous; petioles very short. Flowers bright- 
crimson, usually in dense paniculate cymes springing from the 
branches below the leaves, but sometimes terminating the branch- 
lets as well. Calyx-tube turbinate, glabrous; lobes 5, ovate, 
triangular, obtuse. Stamens lin. long. Ovary sunk in the calyx- 
tube, 3-celled. Capsule tin. long, coriaceous, broadly campanu- 
late, obscurely 5-ribbed, crowned by the persistent cup-shaped 
ealyx-limb.—Kirk, Students’ Fl. 160. 
