PLatTE 22.—ENTELEA ARBORESCENS. 
(THE WHAU.) 
Famity TILIACE/. | [Genus ENTELEA, R. Br. 
Entelea arborescens, R. Br. in Bot. Mag. t. 2480; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. FI. 82. 
This is a familiar plant in the north part of the North Island, and is commonly 
known either by its Maori name of whau, or by that of cork-wood, often applied 
to it by European settlers. It was first discovered in 1769 at Anaura Bay, in the 
Kast Cape district, by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander, who accompanied Cook 
during his first visit to New Zealand. Dr. Solander recognized the family to which 
it belonged, and gave it the MS. name of Corchorus sloaneoides. But that name 
was never actually published; and in 1824, after the lapse of more than fifty years, 
it was described and figured by Robert Brown in the Botanical Magazine under 
its present name. 
So far as is at present known, the genus Entelea is limited to the New Zealand 
plant. But it is very closely allied to the South African Sparmannia, from which 
it only differs in the whole of the stamens being fertile, whereas the outer ones are 
sterile in Sparmannia. The species is mainly coastal in its distribution, and is most 
plentiful between the North Cape and Tauranga on the eastern side of the North 
Island, and Raglan on the west. It occurs sporadically southwards to Wellington, 
and then very sparingly from Cape Farewell to Queen Charlotte Sound, on the 
southern shore of Cook Strait. Usually it is found at the base of cliffs near the sea, 
or in sheltered gullies on sandy soil, but occasionally may be seen on the margin 
of the forest in warm alluvial valleys some little distance inland. As it is greedily 
eaten by cattle and horses, it is fast becoming scarce on the mainland, but is still 
plentiful on many of the outlying islands on the north-eastern coast of the North 
Island. On some of these it exhibits very great luxuriance, as, for instance, on 
Cuvier Island, where some years ago I measured leaves with petioles 2 ft. long, 
and with a blade 1 ft. 6 in. in diameter. 
Entelea arborescens is remarkable for the lightness of its wood, which when 
well dried does not much exceed half the weight of a piece of cork of the same size. 
This induced the Maoris to employ it for the floats of their fishing-nets and for the 
framework of small rafts, as was observed many years ago by Cook and other early 
voyagers. 
The fine bold foliage, which has almost a tropical aspect, and the handsome 
large white flowers, followed by conspicuous spiny capsules, give the plant a very 
handsome and attractive appearance; and as it is of quick growth and very easy 
cultivation it is gradually becoming plentiful in gardens in the North Island. 
It can be raised either from seed or from cuttings of the ripened wood. 
 @EPiate 22. Entelea arborescens, drawn from specimens collected on Otatau Island, in the Hauraki 
Gulf. Fig. 1, sepal (x2); 2 and 3, anthers (x3); 4, ovary (x2); 5, stellate hair (enlarged) ; 
6, section of ovary (x 3); 7, seed (enlarged). 
