CHAP. XXIX.J NEW ZEALAND. 425 



which is found everywhere near the banks of the rivers, in 

 shady and moist or overflowed places, and is also frequently 

 an epiphyte on trees. 



The family of the Palmes is represented in New Zealand 

 by the Areca sapida. In the deepest recesses of the forest 

 the traveller enjoys the sight of this graceful tree, which 

 grows throughout the island, and often to the height of 40 

 feet, and a foot in diameter. It is a useful tree to the 

 natives, who call it nikau, and use its large pinnate leaves 

 for roofing their houses. The undeveloped plaited leaves, 

 or the heart, are also eaten by them. 



The nearly-related Asphodelece have more species, and, 

 as tree-ferns and the Areca palm give a character to the 

 gloomy forest, so several members of that family are cha- 

 racteristic for open alluvial ground, especially the genera 

 Dracaena, Cordyline, and Phormium. 



The Cordyline australis, or Dracaena australis, forms 

 jungle on the alluvial banks of the rivers. The flax grows 

 everywhere : a variety with yellow-striped leaves is scarce. 

 The plants belonging to the Asphodelece are Arthropo- 

 dium cirrhatum, Dianella intermedia, Dracaena indivisa, 

 Cordyline australis, strict a, another undescribed species, and 

 Phormium tenax. 



A climbing plant is very common in the New Zealand 

 forest, which winds from tree to tree, and often renders the 

 path scarcely passable. This is the supplejack of the Eu- 

 ropeans, kareao of the natives. It is a useful plant for the 

 latter, as it serves to support the thatch-work of the houses. 

 The New Zealand pigeon feeds especially upon its red 

 berries. It belongs to the Smilacea, and is the Ripogonum 

 parviflorum of R. Brown. 



Of the Iridece of Jussieu, the genus Libertia has 3 species 

 grandiflora, ixioides, and micrantha. 



The family of the Orchidea, of which so many species 

 exist on the American continent and in Australia, has also 

 several on New Zealand. The terrestrial Orchidece are 

 Thelymitra Forsteri, Orthoceras strictum, Microtis Banksii, 

 Acianthus rivularis, Pterostylis Banksii, Gastrodia sesa- 



