28 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



into the mature type, which has small, scale -like, densely over- 

 lapping leaves, pressed close to the branchlets, o^n-i^j in. long, 

 leathery, blunt, and often incurved at the apex, keeled on the 

 back. Male floivers terminal, ^-| in. long. Seeds 1-2, oblong, 

 obtuse, about ^\j in. long, enclosed for a third or more of their 

 length in a cup-shaped aril. 



Native of New Zealand, being chiefly found on the west coast 

 of the South Island, especially in the Westland district. Rare 

 and local in the North Island. By many writers this species has 

 been confused with Dacrydium biforme, Pilger {Podocarpus 

 hiforme, Hooker), which differs in the juvenile foliage and stouter 

 branchlets. 



Kirk describes the wood as straight and even in the grain, 

 dense, firm, and compact, yet of low specific gravity ; of great 

 strength, toughness, and elasticity, shrinking little when seasoning, 

 and taking a high polish. Mottled wood is highly prized for 

 cabinets and fiu-niture. 



Kirk, loc. cit. 165, f. 85, as D. westland icum ; Hooker, Icon. Plant, t. 548 

 (1843), not t. 544. 



Dacrydium cupressinum, Solander. 

 Remu. 



Red Pine. 



A tree pyramidal when j^oung, with graceful pendulous branches, 

 but acquiring a round-topped crown when mature, 60-100 ft. 

 high with a trunk 6-15 ft. in girth. Bark dark brown or grey, 

 shed in large scales. Juvenile foliage loosely arranged, the leaves 

 awl-shaped, |-| in. long, spreading, decurrent, gradually passing 

 into the mature state, the leaves of which are much smaller, 

 y'o— J in. long, linear, sharp-pointed, or the upper ones often 

 blunt and incurved, keeled on the back. Male fioivers small, 

 green, at the tips of branchlets. Seeds ovoid, slightly compressed, 

 about I in. long, receptacle and bracts occasionally enlarged, 

 fleshy. 



The rimu is abundant in the forests of New Zealand, where 

 it is an important timber tree. 



Wood dark reddish in colour, with darker or lighter markings, 

 often finely figured ; very durable, strong, and a very useful 

 timber for building purposes, bridge construction, railway sleepers, 

 posts, the indoor finish of houses, furniture, and other work. As 

 the wood takes a good polish, finely figured examples are prized 

 for cabinet work. The bark contains a good deal of tannin and 

 is said to impart a reddish colour to leather. 



Examples of the timber are exhibited in the New Zealand 

 Court at the Imperial Institute and in Museum iii, at Kew. 



Kirk, loc. cit. 29, f. 19. 



