96 



TJIK ART AIJiTM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



GENUS 1. 

 DODONffiA {Linn.) The Dodonffia. 



Gexkhic C'haeacter. — Shrubs or trees, often covered 

 with 11 viseid exudation. Leaves sinipU" (or pinnate), exstipu- 

 latc. Flowers unisexual or pohgamouB, apctalous, roKulur. 

 Sepals 3-5, imbricate or valval o. Male ilower. Disk U 

 Stamens 5-8 lilaments very short ; anthers linear-oblong. 



1-angled. Female Ilower, Ovary sessile, 3 6 angled; eells 

 2-ovuIed. t'apsule membranous or coriaceous, scpticidally 

 3- () valved ; valves broadly winged at the back. Cotyledons 

 spiral. — Ilantlhook of the Neiv Zealand Flora, p. 44. 



Description, etc.— A very large Australian genus, of wliich a very few sjiecies, 

 including the New Zealand ones, are scattered widely over the warmer regions of the 

 globe. Few of them exceed ten feet in height, and almost all have their leaves more or 

 less co\ered Avith a clammy gum. The fruits ai'e membranous, with their angles 

 jn-oduced into their papery rounded wings. The leaves of D. riscosa, one of the most 

 widely diffused species, have a somewhat sour and bitter taste, and the plant is from this 

 circumstance called in Jamaica " Switch Sorrel." The leaves of D. Thunbei'yiana, a native 

 of South Africa, are said to be used against fevers and as a purgative. The genus bears 

 the name of Dodoa?ns, a Belgium botanist and physician of the sixteenth centviry. It is 

 represented in New Zealand by Docloncea viscosa. 



1. DODONCEA VISCOSA {Forst.) The Viscid Dodonoea. 



Specific L'h.\bactek. — A small glabrous tree, 6-12 ft. 

 high, with very hard wood, variegated black and white, and 

 compressed viscid young shoots. Leaves 2-3 in. long, on 

 short petioles, linear-obovate, obtuse, acute, or retuse, quite 

 entire, membranous, veined. Flowers small, in terminal, erect, 



t'ew-Howered panicles. Sepals ovate, subacute. Anthers large, 

 almost sessile. Fruit J in. long, orbicular, 2-lobed at both 

 ends, on slender pedicels, 2-3-valved ; valves witli broad, 

 oblong membranous veined wings. Seeds witli dark red- 

 brown testa. — Handbook of the Netv Zealand Flora, p. 45. 



Description, etc. — Plate No. 22. — The " AKE-AKE." — This small tree is abundant 

 in dry woods throughout the Islands. It sometimes attains a height of 30 feet, when it 

 affords a dark, heavy timber of even compact grain, and has great durability. Generally 

 the timber is variegated black and white, in the smaller growths. By the settlers it is 

 sometimes called " Lignum Vitae " on account of its density and weight, being the 

 heaviest of New Zealand woods. The Ake-Ake blossoms in September, and bears small 

 uni-sexual, or on some j^lants both male and female flowers. They have no petals, and to 

 outward appearance are composed solely of a little bundle of short filaments or threads 

 tipped with their rather large anthers. The fruit or seed-vessel is very peculiar, consist- 

 ing of a flattened membranous capsule, the valves of which are broadly Avinged at the 

 back. Our plate represents the j^lant with nearly matured fruit. In the early stages 

 the valves and wings are green, but gradually become a pale brown as the fruit ripens. 

 The wood is used by the Maoris in the manufacture of clubs, and other warlike imple- 

 ments. Owing to its extreme toughness and durability its name has passed into a 



