188 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



pointed. North Island from Whangaroa to Hawke's Bay. In woods, not 

 common. Maori name Tawari. Fl. Nov. -Jan. 



Kirk considers this to be perhaps the most beautiful tree in 

 the flora. This and the following genus are endemic. 



Genus Carpodetus. 



A shrub or tree, with alternate leaves, and axillary panicles of white flowers. 

 Calyx 5-6 lobed ; petals 5-6 ; stamens 5 or 6, inserted with the petals. Fruit 

 round, fleshy, girdled by the calyx. (Name from the Greek in allusion to the 

 fruit being girt by the calyx-limb). 1 sp. 



Carpodetus sernatus (The Serrate Carpodetus). 



A curious, flat-topped tree, about 20 ft. in height, with branches spreading 

 like a fan. Leaves and branches slightly hairy. Leaves beautifully veined and 

 marbled in appearance. Flowers very fragrant, small, white, in broad cymes, 

 hidden amongst the leaves. Fruit the size of a pea, black when ripe. This fruit 

 is very slow to ripen, taking nearly twelve months to come to perfection. As is 

 the case with many New Zealand plants, flowers and ripe fruit may be seen 

 together upon the tree. Found from North Cape to Stewart Island. 

 Fl. Nov.-Mar. 



The native name Puta-puta-weta is derived from the fact 

 that the curious and repulsive insect known as the Weta 

 usually chooses the Carpodetus as a fit tree in which to bore 

 its holes. In the North Island, trees of this species are rarely 

 cut down unperforated by the longitudinal galleries of these 

 insects, which are frequently discovered in their holes. 

 Puta-puta literally signifies full of holes. Another name 

 by which it is known is that of Punaweta. In the 

 Uriwera country it is called Kai-weta (i.e. weta food). The 

 weta, or Maori Devil, is a large orthopterous insect of the 

 genus Deinacrida. 



Genus Weinmannia. 



Shrubs or trees, with opposite leaves, and regular flowers. Calyx-tube 

 4-5-partite ; petals 4-5 ; stamens 8-10, inserted with the petals. Fruit a capsule. 

 A large genus of about 50 species, found chiefly in tropical countries. (Named 

 after Weinmann a German writer). 2 sp. 



Weinmannia silvicola (The Forest-loving Weinmannia). 



A tree with dark-coloured bark, sometimes rising to a height of 70 ft. 

 Leaves opposite, very variable in form, unequally pinnate, or 1-3 foliolate;. 



