214 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



plants considered by the earliest botanists to be the same, but 

 growing in habitats distant from each other, are really distinct 

 species. Dr. Cockayne has clearly proved" that there are at 

 least three, perhaps more, distinct species of Sophora in New 

 Zealand. The question at once arises, which of these are 

 endemic in the Colony and which are more widely distributed ? 

 Until the Chilian and other forms have been closely compared 

 with our local plants, it is impossible to say which foreign 

 species (if any) are identical with the New Zealand forms. 

 This much, however, may be admitted. We have in the 

 distribution of the genus Sophora, evidence of a former closer 

 communication with the South American Continent. 



The kowhai is one of the earliest of the spring-flowering 

 plants. The flowers are sulphur-yellow in colour, with a calyx 

 of old gold. At the time of opening, the corolla shows most 

 delicate tints of green at its base, which, however, disappear 

 when the blossoms are fully expanded. They secrete a large 

 quantity of nectar. The tuis or parson-birds will not take the 

 trouble to insert their brush-tongues to get at the honey, but 

 in their hurry, tear open the flowers with their beaks, leaving 

 the beautiful petals torn and ragged. The Maoris are said to 

 have regulated the time of their potato-planting by the 

 flowering of the kowhai. 



The wood of this tree is handsome, and very valuable on 

 account of its extreme durability. House blocks have been cut 

 from felled trees which have lain from twenty to twenty-five 

 years in^the damp bush. These logs show no sign of decay, 

 even when they have almost to be dug out of the ground. 

 The tree is sometimes called the New Zealand Laburnum. 

 The Maori name is said to mean yellow (the colour of the 

 flowers) . 



As might have been expected, the kowhai has not failed to 

 attract the attention of most writers of New Zealand poetry, 

 and it has been described in verse more often perhaps than 



*Trans. XXXI. p. 373. 



