THE LILY FAMILY 99 



panicle of sweet, creamy or purplish blossoms, or close-set, 

 transparent, wine-coloured berries. In the European forests, 

 the trees invariably shed their leaves during winter, thus 

 giving to the smaller plants which grow beneath them a 

 possibility of obtaining air and sunshine, which is never 

 available in the New Zealand bush. The dark-green gloom 

 of the latter is never lightened, and few rays of sunshine can 

 ever filter through its leafy roof. The smaller plants are thus 



Fig. 25. Astelia nervosa (k nat. size) 



threatened with death by suffocation, and their only chance of 

 life is to raise themselves to the level of the forest trees, and 

 so share with them the upper, sunnier air. Some, starting on 

 the ground, wreathe themselves around a sturdy tree-trunk 

 and climb steadily, leaving behind them leafless rope-like 

 stems, until they reach a place where they may open out into 

 leaves and flowers, with some surety of bringing them to 

 perfection. Others, like the Astelias, rest securely in the 



