PuatTE 40.—IXERBA BREXIOIDES. 
Famity SAXIFRAGACE.. | [Genus IXERBA, A. Cunn. 
Ixerba brexioides, 4. Cunn. Precur. n. 580; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 136. 
Izerba is a monotypic genus confined to New Zealand. It has no very close 
allies, but is usually placed next to the Madagascar genus Brexia. But the flat 
fleshy dise of Ixerba, with its broad blunt lobes alternating with the stamens, is very 
different from the thin disc of Breaia, united with the base of the filaments, and 
divided into linear erect lobes. There is also a marked divergence in the ovary, 
Ixerba having only two ovules in each cell, whereas Brexia has very numerous ovules 
arranged in two series on often pulpy placentas. Our plant was discovered by Allan 
Cunningham at Whangaroa in November, 1828, and was described by him in his 
“Precursor to the New Zealand Flora’ under the name which it now bears, Iaerba 
being an anagram of Breaia, its relationship to which was recognized by Cunningham. 
It was also gathered by Mr. Colenso and most subsequent botanists, but has usually 
been considered to be somewhat rare. This, however, is hardly correct, for in 
point of fact there is no forest district of any size to the north of the East Cape 
on the one side, and Kawhia on the other, where it is not plentiful on the crests 
of hilly ranges or of isolated peaks. It is not, however, frequently seen on the 
outskirts of the forest, which is possibly the reason for the misconception. It attains 
its northern limit on the Maungataniwha Ranges and near Kaitaia, in Mongonui 
County; while the most southern station of which I have precise knowledge is 
northern Hawke’s Bay, where it was observed by Mr. A. Hamilton. It is said to 
have been gathered by Mr. Bidwill in the Wellington District, but does not seem 
to have been noticed by later collectors. 
Few New Zealand trees surpass the subject of this plate im grace and 
attractiveness. Its handsome mode of growth, which has been compared with the 
northern Arbutus, its elegant foliage, and its conspicuous white flowers, often 
produced in great abundance, constitute it a really beautiful plant. It is worth 
mention that it is one of the few trees for which the Maoris had a special name for 
the flowers alone, which they called whakou. In olden times they were strung 
into necklaces and garlands, somewhat in the same way that the Polynesians at 
the present time use the flowers of Fagrea Berteriana and other plants, and were 
worn as personal adornments on gala-days and festivals. 
Puate 40. Ixerba brexioides, drawn from specimens collected on the Little Barrier Island. Fig. 1, 
margin of leaf (x 2); 2, flower-bud (x 2); 3, flower with the petals removed, showing the stamens, 
the large fleshy and bluntly lobed disc, and the ovary with style (x 2); 4, petal (x 2); 5 and 6, front 
and back view of anthers (x 4); 7, longitudinal section of the ovary, showing the position of the 
ovules (x 4); 8, transverse section of ovary (x4); 9, ripe fruit (natural size); 10, seed (x 2); 
11, embryo removed from the seed (x 3). 
