Plate 169.— LITS^^A CALICARIS. 



(THE MANGEAO.) 

 Family LAURACE/E.] [Genus LITS.EA, Lam. 



Litsaea calicaris, Benlh. & Hook. j. ex T. Kirk. Fore.st Fl t. 10; Chc.enem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 603. 

 Laurus calicaris, Snl. ex A. Cunn. Precur. n. 353. 



Litstca calicaris, the mangeao or taugeao of tlie Maoris and of most country 

 residents, was discovered in 1769 by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander at the Bay 

 of Islands, in a locality called by tliem Motuaro, but which is doubtless the same 

 as the island at present known by the name of Motuaroliia. An excellent description 

 of the plant was prepared by Solander for his " Primiti* Florae Novae Zelandiae " 

 under the name of Laurus calicaris, and a plate was also drawn under his superin- 

 tendence for the illustrations intended to accompany the work ; but, as is well known, 

 neither Solander's descriptions nor his plates have ever been published. The two 

 Cunnuighams also observed the plant in the Bay of Islands district, and when Allan 

 Cunningham prepared his " Precursor " for publication he adopted Solander's 

 name. This it retained until Sir J. D. Hooker issued liis " Flora Novae Zelandiae," 

 when he transferred the species to the genus Tetranfhera. In the third volume 

 of the " Genera Plantarum," published in 1880. Hooker and Bentham made a 

 further change by merging Tetranthera with Litscva. Since then our plant has borne 

 the name of Litscea calicaris. 



Litscea is pre-eminently an Indian and Malayan genus, extending northwards 

 to China and Japan, and southwards to New Guinea, Australia, the Pacific islands, 

 and New Zealand, where it attains its southern limit. Although not absent from 

 America or Africa, it is very feebly represented therein. The number of well- 

 establislied species is probably not far short of 175. 



The mangeao, as it is usually called, is a rather closely branched leafy tree 

 from 30 ft. to 40 ft. or 45 ft. in height, with a trunk \\ ft. to 2\ ft. in diameter. 

 When it has ample room for growth the branches often spread considerably, forming 

 a really liandsome tree, but ordinarily it has a somewhat narrow head of branches. 

 The wood is strong, tough, and elastic, and is generally recognized as suitable for 

 all classes of coopers' or wheelwrights' work, or for ships' blocks, oars, shafts, 

 panelling, &c. ; but as large quantities can seldom be obtained in any one locality 

 its use has not increased of late years. 



The geographical range of the mangaeo is very similar to that of the taraire, 

 figured on the previous plate. It extends from the Three Kings Islands and the 

 North Cape to Rotorua and the East Cape on the eastern side of the Island, and 

 to Kawhia on the west. It is not, however, so abundant within its range as the 

 taraire, seldom forming any considerable proportion of the forest. I have not noticed 

 it at a higher elevation than 2,000 ft. 



Plate 169. Lit.icBa calicaris, male and female, drawn from specimens gathered in the vicinity 

 of Auckland. Fig. 1, male inflorescence, showing the four involucral leaves which surround the base 

 of the umbel, and a single flower, three others having been removed ( x 4) ; 2, section of flower, showing 

 stamens ( x 6) ; 3, perianth-.segment with stamen, showing the anther opening by four valves ( x 8) ; 

 4, back view of anther ( x 8) ; 5, female flower, showing the perianth, staminodia, and pistil ( x 4) ; 

 6, side view of flower (x5); 7, perianth-segment, with rudimentary stamen (x8); 8, pair of rudi- 

 mentary stamens (x 8) ; 9, ovary, with style and stigma (x 8) ; 10, section of ovary ( x 8) ; 11, longi- 

 tudinal section of seed (x 1^) ; 12, section of embryo (much enlarged). 



