Podocarpus. | CONIFER. 649 
branches of young trees weak, slender. Leaves of young plants 
usually distichous, spreading, 1-14 in. long, narrow linear-lanceo- 
late; of mature trees inserted all round the branches, close- 
set, ¢-lin. long, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute, pungent, rigid 
and coriaceous, midrib somewhat prominent beneath. Flowers 
dicecious. Male flowers as in P. Totara, but usually solitary 
and distinctly peduncled. Female flowers frequently geminate 
on the short peduncle. Fruit narrow-ovoid, pointed; peduncle 
usually enlarged and succulent.—P. Totara var. Hallii, Pilger, 
Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 84. 
NortH AnD SoutH Isnanps, Stewart IsuanD: In forests from Kaitaia and 
Mongonui southwards, not uncommon. Sea-level to 3500 ft. 
Iam very doubtful as to this being more than a variety of P. Totara, which 
is the view held by Dr. Pilger. Young plants are easily distinguished by the 
weak and often flexuous branches and larger leaves; but it must be confessed 
that the mature foliage so closely resembles that of P. Totara that it is often 
difficult to separate the two plants by that character alone. The thin papery 
bark is, however, unmistakable. I fear that the shape of the fruit and the 
length of the peduncle of the male flower are subject to variation. The wood is 
similar to that of P. Totara, but is said to be inferior in durability. Mr. Kirk 
suggests that Colenso’s P. Cunninghamii may be identical with P. Hallii ; 
but the type specimen in Mr. Colenso’s herbarium appears to be P. Totara. 
3. P. acutifolius, 7. Kirk in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xvi. (1884) 370, 
t. 26.— An erect much-branched shrub 3-10ft. high; branches 
slender, erect. Leaves usually rather lax, spreading, 4-1 in. long, 
linear, straight, acuminate and pungent, sessile or nearly so, green, 
coriaceous ; midrib indistinct ; margins slightly recurved. Flowers 
dicecious. Males 1-4 in. long, solitary or in fascicles of 2-4 at the 
top of an erect peduncle about 4in. long, each flower with 4 scarious 
acuminate bracts at its base, forming a quasi involucre at the top 
of the peduncle. Anthers numerous, closely packed; connective 
obtuse. Female flowers minute, axillary, solitary or very rarely 
geminate at the top of a short swollen peduncle. Fruit small, 
ovoid, seated on the enlarged and fleshy bright-red peduncle.— 
Forest Fl. t. 39; Pilger, Pflanzenreich, iv. 5, 84. 
SoutH Isxuanp: Marlborough—Rutland! Mount Duppa, Macmahon! 
-Nelson—-Lake Rotoiti and upper part of the Buller Valley, Kirk! JT. F.C. ; 
Hope Valley, 7. F. C. 1500-3000 ft. 
Allied to P. nivalis, but at once recognised by the erect slender habit and 
narrow pungent leaves. From P. Totara it is separated by the small size, much 
more slender habit, and narrower thinner leaves. 
4. P. nivalis, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 582.— A much-branched 
erect or prostrate shrub 2-8 ft. high; branches wide-spreading, 
often rooting at the base. Leaves close-set, sessile, not distichous, 
spreading or recurved, +—2 in. long, linear to linear-oblong or narrow 
linear-obovate, obtuse, apiculate, narrowed to the base, very thick 
and coriaceous, midrib prominent beneath, margins thickened. 
Flowers dicecious. Males axillary, solitary or 2-4 at the top of 
