Plate 129.— DRACOPHYLLUM LATIFOLIUM. 



Family EPACRIDACE^.] [Genus DRACOPHYLLUM, Labill. 



Dracophyllum latifolium, .1. C'lnn). Pirriir. n. H2 ; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. Hit. 



The genus Dracophijllum is of considerable physiognomic importance in the 

 New Zealand flora. Most of the species have a distinct aspect of their own ; and 

 in particular the two largest {D. latifolium and D. Traversii), with their candelabrum- 

 like mode of growth, and tufts of long grassy leaves at the tips of the otherwise 

 naked branches, present an appearance so remarkably distinct that the attention 

 of the most incurious person is at once arrested. 



Dracophyllum latifolium, the neinei of the Maoris, was originally gathered by 

 the well-known botanist Allan Cunningham in dry woods by the Kawakawa River, 

 Bay of Islands, in the year 1826. Most subsequent explorers have met with it, and 

 it is now known to be present in all forests of any size from the North Cape to 

 Taranaki and the East Cape. It is found in small quantity in Hawke's Bay, but 

 I have seen no specimens from any portion of the Wellington Provincial District. 

 In the South Island it stretches along the western portion of the Nelson Provincial 

 District from Collingwood to Westport, and then southwards to Charleston, which 

 appears to be its southern limit. 



D. latifolium is a shrub or small tree 8 ft. to 20 ft. high, with a trunk 4 in. to 

 12 in. in diameter. Young plants form erect unbranched rods with a tuft of grassy 

 leaves at the top ; but when mature the plant is usually branched, the branches 

 curving outwards and then upwards, thus giving the plant a candelabrum-like 

 appearance. The leaves are crowded at the ends of the branches, giving them a 

 mop-headed look, and the flowers are very numerous in an erect terminal panicle 

 sometimes 18 in. long. The plant is usually found in dry woods, and almost 

 invariably forms a distinctive portion of the undergrowth in kauri forests. It is 

 also commonly seen along the crests of steep wooded ridges. 



The wood is said to be durable, and suitable for veneering or inlaying, or for 

 ornamental work generally. But the small size of the tree, and the difficulty in 

 obtaining it in quantity, will always prevent much use being made of it. The 

 unbranched stems, which are often naturally and prettily fluted, are often converted 

 into walking-sticks, for which their strength and toughness appear to specially fit 

 them. 



Plate 129. Draco phylli in i latifolium, drawn from specimens collected on the Little Barrier 

 Island by Miss Shakespear. Fig. 1, portion of inflorescence (x 4) ; 2, flower, with the corolla removed 

 (x 5) ; 3, corolla laid open (x .5) ; 4 and 5, front and hack view of anthers (x 7) ; 6, ovary, with 

 the hyjjogynous scales at its base ( x 7) ; 7, longitudinal section of ovary, showing the decurved 

 placentas proceedmg trom the inner angle of the cell (x 10) ; 8, fruit (x .5) : 9, seed (enlarged). 



