288 PLANTS OP NEW ZEALAND 



By the settlers, the tree is often known as the Christmas 

 Tree, because it flowers about the end of the year. Kirk 

 considers it to be " perhaps the most magnificent plant in the 

 New Zealand Flora." The timber of the pohutukawa is 

 extremely hard and durable. 



Metposidepos scandens (The Climbing Bata). 



A climbing shrub. Leaves J in. -^ in. long, sessile, broadly oblong, obtuse, 

 shining, the under- surface covered with glandular dots. Flowers in cymes, 

 3-flowered, axillary. Petals small, white. Stamens \ in. long, white. Capsule 

 ^ in. long. Both islands. Fl. Feb. -March. Maori name ^A;a. 



GenuH Eugenia. 



siirubs or trees. A genus very similar to Myrtus. The only New Zealand 

 species is endemic. Calyx 4-5-lobed ; petals 4-5, often deciduous. Stamens 

 numerous. Fruit a berry. 



Eugenia Maire {The Maire). 



A tree, 20 ft. -50 ft. high. Bark white; branchlets 4-angled. Leaves 

 1 in. -2 in. long, oblong, lanceolate, pointed at the tip. Flowers in axillary or 

 terminal corymbs. Calyx 5-toothed ; petals 5. Berry red. North Island and 

 north of South Island. Fl. June-July. Maori name, Maire Tawhaki. 



Genus Myrtus. 



Shrubs or trees. Leaves opposite, evergreen, dotted with glands. Flowers- 

 axillary, solitary, or in small cymes. Calyx-lobes 4-5 ; petals 4-5 ; stamens- 

 numerous. Fruit a berry. A chiefly tropical and sub-tropical genus. The four 

 New Zealand species are all endemic. 



Myrtus bullata {The Embossed Myrtle). 

 A shrub or small tree. Leaves reddish-brown, swollen between the veins, 

 I in. -2 in. long. Calyx 4-lobed. Flowers J in. -fin. across. Petals white, 

 Berry red. Both islands : rare in the South. Fl. Dec- Jan. Maori name 

 Ramarama. The leaves of this plant are very beautiful, and much used by 

 florists in making nosegays and button-holes. 



Myrtus obcordata [The Obcordate-leaved Myrtle). 



Leaves J in. -J in. long ; flowers 5 in. -J in. across. Calyx 4-lobed. Berry red, 

 black, or violet. Both islands, rather local. Fl. Dec. -Jan. 



Myrtus pedunculata [The Pedunculate Myrtle). 

 Branchlets 4-angled. Calyx and peduncles shining. Leaves rounded at the 

 tip. Calyx 5-lobed. Berry small, yellow or red. Both islands. Fl. Dec. -J an. 

 Maori name Rohutu. 



