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THE ABT ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLOBA. 



(1.) if. mmiflorus ; (2.) M. macrophyllus ; (3.) Jf. lauceolatus ; (4!) If. micranthns, 

 large woody shrubs or small trees, with long, smooth, serrated, short-stalked leaves, and 

 little l)undles of small fragrant flowers on the branches, having one or more bracts. 

 The flowers are usually of separate sexes, and borne on distinct plants ; they are said to 

 contain abundant supplies of honey. The name of the genus means literally " Honey 

 receptacles," due to the secretion of abundant nectar in the flowers of the plants. 



I. MELICYTUS RAMIPLORUS (Forsf.) The Elowering-branched Melicytus. 



Specific Chakacter. — A glabrous, white-barlied small 

 tree, or large slirub, 20-30 feet high ; trunk often angular, 

 branches brittle. Leaves alternate, 4-5 in. long, oblong- 

 lanceolate, accuminate, serrate with small obtuse teeth, some- 

 times obscureh- so ; petioles slender ; stipules deciduous. 



Flowers small, in fascicles on the branches ; peduncles slender 

 i-J in. long, with 2 minute bracts. Flowers minute g in. diam. 

 Calyx lobes spreading, green. Anthers obtuse ; stigma almost 

 sessile, Ij-lobed. Berry small, i in. diam. — Eandbook New 

 Zealand Flora, p. 17. 



Description, etc.— Fig. 2., Plate No. 7— The"Hinahina," or "Mahoe."— This shrub, 

 or small tree is abundant throughout the Islands, in lowland districts. The wood is soft, 

 of a white colour and u.seless for constructive purposes, though occasionally it is used 

 for temporary fencing ; and is burnt as firewood. The tree sometimes attains a height of 

 thirty feet, but the trunk rarely exceeds two feet in diameter. Horses and cattle 

 are greedily fond of the pale green foliage, and eat it without harm to themselves. 

 The tree produces enormous numbers of flowers of a greenish-yellow hue, con- 

 spicuous by their mass ; they are fragrant and afford an abundant supply of nectar 

 The flowers are polygamous, both male and female, growing on the same tree. When 

 the " Hina-hina," or " Mahoe," as the tree is called l)y the natives in some districts, is in 

 berry, it is much frequented by the small native birds, who feed upon the fruit with 

 which it is densely covered. The berries are about the size of a pea, a bright violet 

 colour in the light, but appear nearly black m the shade. In flavour they are slightly 

 sweet but not very palatable. The tree has been planted in shrubberies with success, 

 and is raised by nurserymen for sale, it being deemed worthy of propagation. Young 

 trees transplanted from the woods take kindly to new homes, provided that they 

 have good shelter. The Hina-hina is not known to possess any medicinal -sirtues ; the 

 berries are innocvious, and are eaten by the natives. 



OTHER SPECIES OF MELICYTUS. 



2. M. MACROPHYLLUS {A. Ciinn.) 



A large glabrous bush 4-7 feet high, with a pale brown bark, and leaves rather 

 smaller, but more coriaceous, (leathery) and broader than those of M. ramiflorus. The 



