THE LAUEEL FAMILY 175 



Lauraceae. 



THE LAUREL FAMILY. 



Distribution. A large, chiefly tropical family, with only one European 

 species (Laurus nobilis), the Sweet Bay tree. Cinnamon, Cassia-bark, Camphor 

 and Clove Nutmegs, are all obtained from various species of this family. 



Key to tJie Genera. 



1. Leafless twining herb. Cassytha, p. 177. 

 Leafy trees. 2 



2. Small tree. Flowers in a 4-5 leaved involucre. Litsea, p. 175. 

 Lofty forest trees. Flowers in panicles. Beilschmiedia, p. 175. 



Genus Litsea. 



Shrubs or trees, leaves usually alternate. Flowers in axillary umbels, 

 dioecious. Perianth absent, or 4-8-parted. Stamens 6-15 in the male flowers ; 

 rudimentary in the female. Berry ovoid. 1 sp. 



Litsea calicaris. 



A leafy, shining tree, 30ft. -40ft. in height. Leaves 3in.-4in. long, 

 oblong, entire, obtuse, pale brown when young. Leaves of involucre & in.-J in. 

 long. Flowers 4 or 5 together, delicately fragrant. Perianth of 5-8 segments, 

 cream-coloured. Stamens usually 12 ; anthers large, 4-valved. Berry f in. long, 

 red. North Island : North Cape to Botorua. Fl. Sep. -Oct. Maori name 

 Mangeao. 



Genus Beilschmiedia. 



Lofty forest trees. Leaves alternate. Flowers in panicles, terminal or 

 axillary. Perianth of 6 segments. Stamens 12, some of which are usually 

 infertile. Berry ovoid. This genus is endemic in New Zealand. 2 sp. 



Beilschmiedia Tarairi (The Tarairi). 



A handsome tree, 60 ft. -80 ft. in height, with large, glossy leaves. Young 

 shoots and leaf -stalks clothed with rusty-coloured down. Leaves 3 in. -6 in. long, 

 leathery, ovate-oblong, obtuse, sometimes whitish below. Flowers in branched 

 panicles, inconspicuous, 1 in. -2 in. across. Perianth in. across. Fruit an oval 

 berry, 1J in. long, purple, plum-like, very attractive to birds, but, unless boiled, 

 said to be poisonous to man. North Island : Auckland district. Fl. Nov. 

 Maori name Tarairi. 



Beilschmiedia Tawa (The Tawa). 



A forest tree, 60 ft. -70 ft. in height, with slender branches, and pale, usually 

 narrow, leaves, 3 in. -4 in. long. Flowers in slender panicles, 2 in. -3 in. across, 

 green. Perianth ^ in. long, smooth, shining. Fruit resembling a damson, 

 edible, | in. long. North Island: abundant in hilly districts. South Island: 

 near Cook Strait. 



