54 



THE ABT ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



some districts, it is extensively used as firewood. The inner hark of the young hranches 

 yields the toughest fibre, and has heen used hy the Maoris for cordage, and twine for 

 fishing nets. The tree is known hy the native name of "Houi," or " Whau-whi," and 

 hotanically once bore the nomenclature of FhiU'ipodeudron recj'mm, in honour of Louis 

 Phillii^e, King of France, described by Poiteau, the French botanical draughtsman, in 

 whose work, " Annales des Sciences Natiirelles" there appears a drawing. This species 

 blossoms in December, and bears a great number of small, white, sweet-scented flowers, 

 containing honey. 



3. PLAGIANTHUS LYALLII {Hook., F.) 



Mr. LatiU's Plagianthus. 



Specific Character. — A small branching tree, 20-30 

 ft. high, with the young br.anches, inflorescence, and leaves 

 below, covered with wliite stellate down. Leaves 2-4 in. long, 

 ovate-cordate, acuminate, deeply doubly crenate, glabrous 

 above; petioles J— Ij in. Flowers large, Jin. broad, wliite, 

 axillary; peduncles 1-flowered, solitary or fascicled, ebract- 

 eolate," about as long as the petioles. Calyx broadly cam- 



panulate. Petals obliquely obovate-cuneate, obscurely notched 

 on one side towards the apes. Staminal tube short, with many 

 long filiform filaments. Ovary about 10-celled, style slender, 

 divided into as many filiform branches, stigmatose on tlie inner 

 surface towards the apex. Fruit a depressed sphere, breaking 

 up into 10 compressed reniform membranous carpels. Seed 

 uiucli compressed. — Handbook of New Zealand Flora, p. 30. 



Description, etc.. Fig. 2, Plate No. 11.— "THE HOHERE."— This very handsome 

 tree is found in the mountainous districts of the Middle Island, from Nelson to Milford 

 Sound, fringing the Fagus forests on the western slopes of the dividing ranges. Sir 

 Julius Von Haast states that it is deciduous at and above 3,000 feet, but is evergreen 

 below that level. In Autumn, its naked branches and yellow foliage give a peculiar 

 colour to the landscape, at the higher elevation. Owing to the flowering habit of 

 the ti'ee, and its fruit being a dejjressed sphere, hanging on a long peduncle or stalk, 

 it is commonly known by the settlers as the "Wild Cherry." The wood is white, 

 but possesses no durability. It was formerly in demand for fencing purjjoses and 

 shingles, but experience has proved its unsuitability ; it is only used as firewood. 

 This tree is veiy beautiful when seen in its native habitat. It blossoms in the 

 months of February and March, when it is laden \\\\\\ masses of delicate white flowers, 

 each flower lieing three-quarters of an inch across, and forms a conspicu.ous and charm- 

 ing adjunct to the mountain scenery. It is scarcely possible to conceive any sight more 

 picturesque and pleasing, than the dark background of a mountain ravine enlivened by 

 a fringe of the beautiful Hohere, in full blossom, following the windings of a mountain 

 stream. On account of the fibrous nature of its inner bark, it is poj)ularly known in 

 the Middle Island as one of the "Ribbon Wood" or "Lace Bark" trees, as is the 

 Solieria popiilnea, and its varieties, in the Northern Island. It bears its specific name 

 in honour of Mr. Lyall, a New Zealand botanist of repute. 



