25 



is so free from the climbers and epiphytes that commonly clothe 

 the larger trees of the New Zealand forest. From the top of the 

 trunk spring, almost from one point, the short but immensely 

 thick branches. These, with the branchlets and foliage, form a 

 high vaulted roof to the forest, through which a varying amount 

 of daylight niters to the ground. As large trees of other species 

 seldom grow plentifully intermixed with the kauri, the forest has 

 an open appearance not usually seen in the New Zealand woodlands. 

 Under the vaulted roof of branches the eye can penetrate far and 

 wide among the massive trunks, which have hence been compared 

 to the pillars of some vast Gothic cathedral. 



So much for the physiognomy of the kauri itself. But one of 

 the most distinctive features of the kauri grove of any size is the 

 peculiar nature of the associated vegetation. Although few really 

 large trees grow intermixed with the kauri, smaller trees and 

 shrubs do, together with certain herbaceous plants and ferns. And 

 wherever a clump of kauri exists these plants are found, or, at any 

 rate, the greater portion of them. Space does not permit of a full 

 account, but it may be allowable to mention the names of prominent 

 species. Of shrubs or trees there are the taraire (Beilschmiedia 

 taraire), the neinei (Dracophyllum latifolium), the mairehau (Phebalium 

 nudum), the tapairu (Senecio Kirkii), and the climbing ratas 

 (Metrosideros florida and M. albi flora). Of non-shrubby plants the 

 most noteworthy are the " kauri-grass " (Astelia trinervia) and 

 Gahnia xanthocarpa. together with the ferns Lomaria discolor and 

 Lygodium articulatum. These, and many others, are those which 

 delight to grow in association with the kauri, although by no means 

 so certain to appear in company in the ordinary forest. 



A young kauri say, from fifty to a hundred years old differs 

 entirely in appearance from the mature tree. It has a narrow 

 conical and sharply pointed outline, and is furnished with a succession 

 of short slender branches inserted at right angles to the stem. As 

 the tree increases in size the lower branches are cast off one by one, 

 but it is only by slow degrees that the bushy-topped shape of the 

 adult is assumed. It is a curious fact that young kauris are not 

 commonly found among the mature trees, the reason probably being 

 that the amount of light is not sufficient for the growth of the very 

 young tree. The juvenile kauri is usually found on the outskirts 

 of the forest proper, and is accompanied by such trees as the white 

 tea-tree (Leptospermum ericoides), the towai (Weinmannia sylvicola), 

 the toru (Persoonia torn), the maire (Fusanus Cunning hamii), the 

 rewarewa (Knightia excel so), and others. Such localities have been 

 very truly called the nursery of the kauri. Granted sufficient time, 

 this mixture of young kauris and other trees would develop into a 

 forest of mature kauris ; and in point of fact the intermediate stages 

 can be observed without difficulty. 



One of the most interesting of the peculiarities of the kauri is 

 its copious production of a resin to which the name of " kauri-gum " 

 is ordinarily applied. In a fresh state every part of the kauri is 

 filled with a transparent turpentine, which exudes from the slightest 

 wound. An injury to the bark, a broken branch, even bruised 

 leaves, at once cause a copious flow. At first soft and viscid and of 

 whitish colour, it gradually hardens on exposure to the air and 



