.Metrosideros:} MYRTACER. ‘167 
' A noble and picturesque tree, very abundant on’ the rocky cliffs and head- 
ands of the northern portion of the North Island. Banks and Solander recorded 
it from Totaranui (Queen Charlotte Sound) in the South Island; but this ‘is 
probably an error. .The wood is largely employed for shipbuilding and other 
purposes requiring strength, hardness, and durability. 
10. M. villosa, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. ui. (1797) 268.—A 
much-branched tree 20-60ft. high, trunk 1-4 ft. diam.; branchlets, 
undersurface of leaves, inflorescence, and calyces densely covered 
with white tomentum. Leaves decussate, 3-2 in. long, broadly ovate 
or broadly oblong, sometimes almost orbicular, obtuse at both ends, 
very coriaceous ; margins recurved; petioles short, stout. Flowers 
scarlet, in small terminal many-flowered cymes; peduncles and 
pedicels short, stout. Calyx-tube broadly obconic ; lobes short, 
deltoid, with a gland at the tip. Petals broadly oblong, exceeding 
the calyx-lobes. Stamens 3—3in. long. Ovary 3-celled, adnate 
to the base of the calyx-tube. Capsule in. long, half-superior, 
‘woody, tomentose, girt at the middle by the persistent calyx-lmb, 
the free portion loculicidally 3-valved. — Kirk, Students’ Fl. 163. 
M. polymorpha, Gaud. in Freyc. Voy. Bot. 482, t. 85; Hook. f. 
Handb. N.Z. Fl. 73; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 119. 
KERMADEC Is~AnpDs: Sunday Island, the most abundant tree, ascending to 
the tops of the hills, altitude 1700 ft. August—December. 
A common plant in many of the Polynesian islands, varying greatly in size, 
shape of the leaves, presence or absence of tomentum, &c. The above descrip- 
tion refers solely to the Kermadec Island variety. 
11. M. scandens, Sol. ex Gerin. Fruct. i. 172, t. 34, f. 10.—A 
tall woody climber, reaching the tops of the highest. trees ; branches 
numerous, spreading, terete ; branchlets tomentose or setose. Leaves 
distichous, sessile, 4-4 in. long, broadly ovate or broadly oblong to 
orbicular, obtuse, very coriaceous, glabrous and shining above, 
paler, glandular-punctate and often pilose beneath; margims re- 
curved. Flowers small, white, in pedunculate 3-flowered cymes 
‘crowded towards the ends of the branches, forming a leafy terminal 
panicle; peduncles and pedicels pubescent. Calyx-tube short, 
broadly turbinate; lobes short and broad, obtuse, persistent. 
Petals orbicular, white. Stamens slender, tin. long. Ovary 3- 
celled, adnate to the base of the calyx-tube, and sunk in it during 
the flowering stage. Capsule globose, 4in. diam.,. half-superior, 
girt round the middle by the persistent calyx-limb, the free portion 
Joculicidally 3-valved.— Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 69; Handb. N.Z. 
Fl. 73; Kirk, Students’ Fl. 163. M. perforata, d. Rich. Fl. Nouv. 
‘Zel. 334. M. buxifolia, A. Cunn. Precur. n. 556; Hook. Bot. Mag. 
t. 4515. M. vesiculata, Col. in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 327. 
M. tenuifolia, Col. J.c. xxiv. (1892) 386. Melaleuca perforata, 
Forst. Prodr. n. 212. Leptospermum perforatum, Vorst. Char. 
Gen. 72. 
