Puate 26.—PHEBALIUM NUDUM. 
(THE MAIREHAU.) 
Famity RUTACE. |] [Genus PHEBALIUM, Vent. 
Phebalium nudum, Hook. Ic. Plant. t. 568; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 93. 
Not many of the smaller shrubs of New Zealand are more deserving of notice 
than the subject of this plate. The slender graceful habit, the pleasant aromatic 
smell of the leaves, and the abundant corymbs of fragrant white flowers combine 
to render it a most pleasing and attractive plant. It is one of the numerous species 
added to the New Zealand flora by Mr. Colenso, who in 1838 collected it at Owai, 
near Whangaroa. Mr. Colenso’s specimens were forwarded to his friend Allan 
Cunningham, who, however, did not live to examine them. Further examples 
were sent to Sir W. J. Hooker, who figured and described them in the “ Icones 
Plantarum ”’ under the present name. 
Phebalium nudum is confined to the North Island, and is found in hilly forests 
from Kaitaia (Mongonui County) southwards to the Upper Thames Valley. It 
frequently occurs in kauri forests, mixed with Alsewosmia macrophylla, Senecio 
Kirku, Dracophyllum latifolium, Leucopogon fasciculatus, Astelia trinervia, Gahnia 
canthocarpa, &c. It also frequents dry rocky or clayey slopes in mixed forests, 
and is particularly plentiful in such stations in the Great Barrier Island, and certain 
portions of the Cape Colville Peninsula. It descends to sea-level in several localities, 
but is generally seen between 250 ft. and 1,000 ft. altitude. In the Thames district 
and near Hokianga it ascends to an elevation of quite 2,500 ft. 
With the exception of the present species, the genus is confined to Australia, 
where about thirty species are known. According to Sir J. D. Hooker, the New 
Zealand plant is very closely allied to the Queensland P. elatius, ‘‘ but the flowers 
are larger, the petals longer, the corymbs more flattened, and the leaves taper less 
to the base; they may prove to be local forms of the one species.” 
The fragrance of the flowers, and the aromatic nature of the whole plant, have 
given rise to the belief that a perfume of some value might be obtained from it. 
Some years ago an attempt was made to investigate the matter, but I understand 
that the results were not considered sufficiently favourable. 
Puiate 26. Phebalivm nudum, drawn from specimens collected on the Little Barrier Island by 
Miss Shakespear. Fig. 1, portion of leaf, showing oil-glands and the wregularly crenate margin 
(enlarged) ; 2, flower-bud (x4); 3, flower (x 4); 4 and 5, anthers (x5); 6, 5-lobed pistil (x 6) ; 
7 and 8, transverse and longitudinal sections of pistil (x 8); 9, fruit, showing two fully developed 
cocci and 3 rudimentary ones (x 4); 10, endocarp removed from the capsule (or coccus) (x 4); 11, the 
same spread open, showing the seed (x4); 12, the same, empty (x4); 13, section of seed (x 4) ; 
14, embryo (x 5). 
