94 THE AliT ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



used by tho Maoris as piuicf ui'in^' instrumonts in tatooing. The Discaria hlooms in 

 Sopteniljer in tho North, and a month later in the Sonth. The flowers ai*e small, white, 

 and sweet scented, and are prodneed in abundance along- the under side of the branches. 

 They are said to produce a very large quantity of honey, and are fertilized by insects. 

 The seed vessel or capsule, when mature, becomes about the size of a peppercorn. The 

 generic name of the plant is due to the disk of the flower being adnate, or united to the 

 base of the calyx. The able compiler of the " Handbook " recognises this species as 

 distinct from the Australian plant, relying on the absence of petals and the minute 

 pubescence on the pedicels and flowers. 



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