190 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



black. Small drops of nectar are to be found at the base of 

 the corolla. Mr. G. M. Thomson"'' is in error in saying that 

 there is no perceptible fragrance. At night the flowers diffuse 

 a sweet odour that fills the air for many yards around. This 

 scent is evidently intended to attract night-flying insects. It 

 is strange, therefore, that the flowers should be so dark in hue, 

 for most night pollinated flowers are of a bright white colour. 

 Its dense pale-green foliage, black twigs, and shapely form, 

 make it one of the most attractive of the smaller native trees. 

 For some unaccountable reason, it is known to gardeners as 

 P. nigrescens. 



Pittospopum obcordatum. {The Obcordate-leaved Pittosporum). 

 A small tree, with divaricating branches, small leaves, and white flowers. 

 Fruit not seen. 



This plant was first collected by Raoul about 184'2. He 

 reported it from Banks' Peninsula, and it has been sought 

 for there by numerous later botanists, but never found. 

 For sixty years the plant was not again met with, and was 

 then found near Kaitaia by Messrs. Mathews and Carse. As 

 Raoul had visited this district, it is therefore very probable 

 that the habitat given in the first place was wrong. It is 

 the only New Zealand species with white flowers. 



This error in the habitat has led Diels into supposing that 

 the smallness of the leaves in this species is due to its inhabit- 

 ing " one of the coldest districts in the wide area of distribu- 

 tion of the genus." Even had the plant been found at Akaroa, 

 this statement would scarcely have been correct, for Akaroa 

 has a mild climate, with only very light frosts. P. tenuifoUum 

 var. fasiculatum however is found in Preservation Inlet, in 

 South-west Otago, where the climate is much more severe, 

 while P. rigidum is sub-alpine. 



Pittosporum cornifolium {The Cornel-leaved Pittosporum). 

 An epiphytal species. This is a beautiful little shrub, with small, drooping 

 terminal umbels of delicate reddish flowers. Flowering stem and buds deep red. 



♦Trans. XIII. p. -254. 



