174 PLANTS OP NEW ZEALAND 



Monimiaceae. 



Distribution. A small family, chiefly tropical, found in South America, 

 Southern India and Tasmania. Leaves sometimes aromatic. 



Genus Laurelia. 



A genus of 4 species, including one found in Chili and two in Australia. 

 Trees. Leaves opposite, aromatic. Flowers dicscious, in panicles. Perianth 

 5-8 parted. Stamens 6-20 in the male, flowers reduced to scales in the female. 

 Ovaries 5-20, hairy. Achenes'with long feathery styles. (Name in allusion to the 

 laurel-like leaves). 1 sp. 



Laurelia novae-Zelandiae (The Pukatea). 



One of the loftiest of New Zealand forest trees, sometimes reaching the 

 height of 150 ft. Trunk from 3 ft. -7 ft. in diameter, flanked with thin spreading 

 buttresses at its base. Bark pale Leaves thick, 1 in.-3in. long, f in.-lj in. 

 wide, toothed, shining. Flowers racemed, axillary, ^ in. across. Stamens 6-10. 

 Achenes 6-10. North Island ; northern parts of the South Island. Fl. Oct. -Nov. 

 Maori name Pukatea, 



The wood of this tree is pale-brown, tinged with yellow, and 

 streaked with darker shades. It is much valued for boat- 

 building, as it does not split, and will not readily burn. The 

 pukatea, like the tawa, furnishes the Maori with an illustration 

 of cowardice. 



Te waka pukatea, te waka kohe-kohe. 

 The pukatea canoe, the kohe-kohe canoe ; 



'i.e., The coward is like the canoe of pukatea, which, being 

 made of soft wood, soon gets water-logged and slow of motion. 

 The brave man is like the kohe-kohe canoe, swift and strong. 



Genus Hedycarya. 



Trees. Leaves opposite. Flowers in panicles, axillary, dioacious. Perianth 

 5-10-lobed. Anthers sessile, numerous in the male flower. Ovaries numerous, 

 stigma sessile in the female flower. Ovule solitary. 1 sp. 



Hedycarya arborea (The Tree-like Hedycarya). 



Trunk 20 ft. -30 ft. in height. Bark dark in colour. Leaves 1 in. -4 in. long, 

 oblong, coarsely-toothed, rarely entire, shining or slightly hairy. Flower- 

 panicles hairy, shorter than the leaves. Perianth J in. across, yellowish. Fruit 

 oblong, in. long, orange-red, beaked. Both Islands. Fl. Nov.-Dec. Maori 

 name Porokaiwhiri or Poporo-kaiwhiri. 



