MALLOWS AND RIBBON-WOODS 



253 



The wood of this tree is white and very tough. It is 

 occasionally used by cabinet makers, and makes excellent 

 firewood. A soothing drink was made from the bark by the 

 Maoris. 



Genus Phigianthus. 



Shrubs or trees, with rough inner bark, and divaricating branches. Flowers- 

 axillary or terminal. Leaves usually entire. Seeds pendulous. (Name from 

 the Greek, signifying oblique, from the unequal petals). 3 sp. 



Fig. 79. Holieria populnea, var. angustifolia (5 nat. size), 



Plagianthus divaricatus {The Wide-branched Bibbon-ivood) . 



A curious shrub, with slender, widely-branched, tough stems. Leaves and 

 flowers both minute. Leaves fascicled ; flowers white, tubular, axillary. 

 Stamens, 6-10. Fruit a round capsule containing one or two seeds. Both 

 islands. Fl. Oct. -No v. 



This plant is very different from the other species of the 

 genus. It grows only by the seaside, where it forms dense 

 bushes, which become very compact owing to the interlacing 

 of the delicate sprays. Diels classifies it with Avicennia 

 as a mangrove plant, and, according to him, the stout 



