1. DYSOXYLUM {Bhime.) The Dvsoxylum. 



GrENEEic C'HAUACTEK. — Large fort'st trees, often fetid, or 

 with a garlicky smell. Leaves, alternate, pinnate. Flowers, 

 I'atlier small, in axillary panicles. Calyx, short, 4 or 5-lobetl, 

 toothed or parted, imbricate. Petals, 4 or 5, linear-oblung, 

 valvate, sometimes united at the base, and with the sti\i,iinal 

 tube, which is ejlindric, 8 or 10-toothed ; anthers, 8 or lU, 

 included. Disk, tubular, sheathing the 3-5-celled ovary. 



Capsule, coriaceous, globose or ])yriform, 1 5-celleil, 2-5-valved, 

 splitting down (he middle of the cells; valves, with the septa 

 on their faces. Seeds, large, arillate or naked, oblong; hilum, 

 broad, ventral ; testa, brown, shining ; cotyledons, very large; 

 plumule included or exserted. — Ilaiidhook of the h'ew'Zealand 

 Flora^ p. 41. 



Description, etc. — A large genixs of timber and forest trees, natives of tropical 

 Asia, Northern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Some of the largest and most 

 valuable timber trees in Java are members of this genus. 



1. DYSOXYLUM SPECTABILE {Sook., F.) The Beautiful Dysoxylum. 



Genemic Chabacteh. — A large tree, 40-50 ft. high. 

 Leaves, 1 ft. or more long, pinnate; leaflets, about 4 pairs, 

 alternate, petioled, oblong, obovate, acute, 3-fi in. long, quite 

 glabrous, entire, oblique at the base, narrowed into the terete 

 petiole. Panicles, 8-12 in. long, usually growing from the 

 trunk, sparingly branc4ied, ebraeteate. Flowers, shortly 



pedicelled, \ in. broad. Calyx, lobes very small, ciliate. 

 Petals, linear, patent, obtuse. Staminal tube, eylindric, fleshy, 

 crenate ; anthers, quite included, sessile on thickened pro- 

 minences. Style, very slender ; stigma, disciform. Capsule, 

 obovate, pendidous, 1 in. long. Aril, scarlet. — Handhook of 

 the Neil) Zealand Flora, y). 41. 



Description, etc.— Plate No. 18.— The " KOHEKOHE."— This interesting tree 

 is indigenous to the Northern Island, but is often local. It is plentiful at the Bay of 

 Islands and along the East Coast. In the Middle Island it does not occur south of 

 Nelson, where it is rather rare. It grows from sea level up to 1,500 feet on the ranges. 

 The Kohekohe has very handsome pinnate, pale green, walnut-like foliage, and often 

 attains a height of 40 or 50 feet. In the diameter of its trunk it rarely exceeds three 

 feet. The timber is compact, red, and tough, but not durable. It is valualjle in the 

 construction of furniture, but is only utilized for that purpose in the Auckland District. 

 It is used extensively for fencing purposes in some districts ; and the Maoris, where no 

 more suitable wood offers, make it into oars for their A\lialeboats. The tree is generally 

 called by the settlers "The Native Cedar." The young bark is said to contain tonic 

 properties allied to quinine, but no authentic analysis exists to confirm it. It is, how- 

 ever, well known that the whole tree possesses, more or less, a bitter property, and, Avhen 

 any part is immersed in water, imparts to it an intensely bitter flavour having the taste 

 of hops, more particularly when the young bark, leaves, or capsules are used. A 

 spirituous infusion of the leaves is considered to be a good stomachic. The tree blossoms 

 in June, when the long, drooping panicles of pale-coloured flowers, which measure from 

 eight to twelve inches, and grow from the main trunk, or older branches, are very 

 attractive and interesting. The flowers contain large quantities of honey in tlieir cup- 

 like receptacles, Avhich are much frequented by bees, and from which the Tui 



