68 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. | Myrtacea. 
membranaceis glaberrimis, thyrsis abbreviatis axillaribus 8-10-floris, floribus parvis, calyce ovoideo tubo 
late campanulato (seepe deciduo) coronato, capsula parva globosa 3-loba 3-valvi. 4. Cunn. Prodr. Tas. XVI. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands; common in woods. Bay of Islands, Cunningham, etc.; Akaroa, 
Raoul; Chalky Bay, Lyall. Fl. December. 
A slender, twiggy, climbing shrub, with dichotomous divaricating branches, the ultimate ones tetragonous, 
pubescent, appearing like pinnate leaves. Leaves (4-2 inch) membranous (for the genus), sessile, ovate, subacute, 
with a short point. Thyrsi lateral or axillary, 1 inch long, with ten to twelve small pedicellate flowers, resembling 
those of M. diffusa, but shorter and smaller, scarlet. Capsule very small, globose, three-lobed, three-valved to the 
base. —This and the following are the smallest and most slender species of the genus. Prate XVI. Fig. 1, flower; 
2, section of ovarium ; 3, capsule; 4, vertical section of the same; 5, seed :—all magnified. 
6. Metrosideros Colensoi, Hook. fil. ; frutex scandens, gracilis, distiche ramosus, ramulis velutinis, foliis 
(1-2 unc.) distichis quasi pinnatis sessilibus ovato- v. oblongo-lanceolatis acutis pubescentibus v. glabratis 
submembranaceis, thyrsis axillaribus lateralibusque rarius terminalibus pubescentibus, floribus parvis gracile 
pedicellatis, calyce basi angusto in tubum campanulatum producto, capsula submembranacea globosa pubes- 
cente calycis tubo campanulato breviore ad basin 3-valvi. 
Has. Northern Island. Bay of Islands and east coast, Hdyerley, Colenso, ete. 
Very similar to the last, but readily distinguished by the sharp leaves, tomentose ramuli, downy leaves, flowers, 
and fruit, and larger capsules. The panicle is generally effuse, and 14 inch long, but sometimes contracted. 
8 e. Capsule surrounded below the middle by the persistent calyx-tube ; the three valves free above. 
7. Metrosideros robusta, A. Cunn.; arbor erecta, ramosa, ramulis 4-gonis puberulis, foliis (13 unc.) 
petiolatis elliptico-oblongis obovatisve obtusis coriaceis subaveniis reticulatis, thyrsis terminalibus subtricho- 
tome ramosis puberulis, calyce obconico v. infundibuliformi, capsulis oblongis obtusis calycis limbo in- 
crassato 5-dentato medio cinctis superne 3-valvibus. 4. Cunn. Prodr. M. florida, Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 4471. 
Tas. XVII. 
Has. Northern Island, especially near the sea-coast; abundant about the Bay of Islands, Cunning- 
ham, etc. Nat. name, “ Rata," Cunningham. (Cultivated in England.) 
A tall tree, 60—80 feet high, branching above, erect, never scandent; wood hard, close-grained, successfully 
employed for ship-building. Leaves (14 inch) on short petioles, elliptic-oblong or obovate, smooth, coriaceous, 
blunt, minutely reticulated with many nerves. Thyrsi broad, terminal, of many handsome scarlet. flowers; branches 
and peduncles stout, angled, and calyx pubescent.  Calys obconic, five-toothed. Pedals and stamens ($ inch) 
scarlet. Fruit an oblong, often pubescent capsule, (4-4 inch long,) encircled at the middle by the coriaceous thick 
rim of the calyx; valves three, blunt, free.— Very similar to the M. florida, but flowers a deeper scarlet, and the 
fruit widely different. PLATE XVII. Fig. 1, petal; 2, vertical section of germen; 3, capsule; 4, vertical section of 
the same; 5, seed :—all magnified. 
8. Metrosideros tomentosa, A. Cum. ; arbor robusta, ramulis (crassis) foliis subtus inflorescentiaque 
dense albido-velutino-tomentosis, foliis valde coriaceis (3-4 unc.) elliptico-lanceolatis rarius late ovatis acutis 
valide petiolatis marginibus recurvis, thyrsis breve pedunculatis multifloris, floribus ternis sessilibus calycis 
tubo brevi obconico, capsula sublignosa medio calycis tubo incrassato cincta apice 3-valvi. 4. Rich. Mora. 
A. Cunn. Prodr. M. excelsa, Banks et Sol. MSS. 
Has. Rocky coasts, etc., of the Northern Island; abundant, Banks and Solander, etc. Fl. December. 
Nat. name, “ Pohutu-Kawa,” Cunningham. (Cultivated in England.) 
A common, and, when in flower, very handsome, small, stout, branching tree, 30—40 feet high. Branches thick, 
