Laurinee. | FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. 217 
Gen. II. NESODAPHNE, Hook. fil. 
Flores hermaphroditi. Perianthium 6-partitum, subeguale, deciduum. Stamina 12, 2-seriata ; antheris 
2-locularibus; 6 exteriora fertilia, introrsa, eglandulosa; 3 interiora fertilia, extrorsa, basi extus 9-glan- 
dulosa, cum 3 sterilibus eglandulosis alternantia. Ovarium 1-loculare; stigmate simplici. Fructus baccatus, 
nudus.— Arbores sempervirentes e tribu Persearum. 
Very large trees, with evergreen leaves and small greenish flowers in axillary and terminal panicles. Flowers 
not bracteate or involucrate, hermaphrodite. Perianth six-cleft. Stamens nine fertile, with two-celled anthers, of 
which six form one row opposite the segments of the perianth, have no glands at the filaments, and the anthers 
of which burst inwards; three others form a second row, alternating with three sterile stamens, their anthers open 
outwards, and there are two glands opposite the bases of their filaments. Ovary one-celled, with a short style and 
simple stigma. Berry ovoid, purple, placed on the top of the swollen peduncle. (Name from voos, an island, and 
Sagdyn, a laurel.) 
1. Nesodaphne Tarairi, Hook. fil.; arborea, ramulis ferrugineo-tomentosis, foliis obovato-oblongis 
obtusis supra glaberrimis subtus glaucescentibus pubescentibus costa nervisque tomentosis, paniculis dense 
tomentosis patentibus multifloris. Laurus Tarairi, 4. Cunn. Prodr. 
Has. Northern Island, Banks and Solander, etc. Nat. name, “ Taraire,” Cunn. (Cultivated in 
England.) 
A large tree, 50-80 feet high, the wood of which, according to Cunningham, is white, and splits freely, but is 
not much used. Branches, panicle of flowers, petiole, costa and veins of the leaf below densely covered with red 
or brown rusty down. Leaves coriaceous, 3-6 inches long, obovate-oblong, blunt, quite glabrous and shining above, 
pubescent, with prominent veins, and glaucous below. Panicles 1-2 inches across, branched. Flowers 2 lines long. 
Berries 13 inch long, ovoid, purple, much eaten by birds, and, when boiled, by man; the kernel is said to be 
poisonous. 
2. Nesodaphne Zawa, Hook. fil.; foliis (junioribus sericeis) anguste linearibus lanceolatis elliptico- 
oblongisve utrinque reticulatim venosis subtus glaucis puberulis, panicule ramis elongatis, floribus parvis 
glaberrimis. Laurus Tawa, A. Cunn. Prodr. L. salicifolia, Banks et Sol. MSS. 
Has. Northern Island, Banks and Solander, etc. Nat. name, “Tawa,” Cunn. (Cultivated in 
England.) 
A large tree, 60-70 feet high. Young branches pubescent, with silky young leaves. Old leaves very variable 
in size and breadth, 3-4 inches long, narrow, lanceolate or elliptical oblong, finely reticulated on both sides, very 
glaucous below. Flowers small, in loosely branched glabrous panicles, with long slender peduncles. Berries smaller 
than in N. Tarairi, also eaten.—Wood poor, very destructible, used for spears. 
Gen. III. CASSYTHA, Z. 
Perianthium 6-fidum ; tubo brevissimo; laciniis 3 exterioribus nanis. Stamina 12, biseriata, interiorum 
3 sterilia laciniis interioribus opposita, reliqua basi biglandulosa. Anthere 2-loculares. Fructus perianthio 
baccato tectus.—Herbe v. fruticuli volubiles, aphylli. 
A very curious, not extensive, genus of generally tropical plants, of which a few species are found in Australia 
and Tasmania, and one in New Zealand, apparently the C. glabella of Australia, as far as can be decided without 
fruit. —A leafless, twining, half-shrubby, glabrous plant, consisting of densely interwoven masses of string-like 
stems. Like Cuscuta, this germinates in the ground, but afterwards becomes parasitic, feeding on the sap of the 
plants it grows over by means of suckers attached to the surface of the stem, that corrode the bark of the stock. 
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