242 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Tiliaceae. 



THE LIME-TREE FAMILY. 



Distribution. A family of 40 genera, and 340 species. Tilia is the only 

 genus found in cold regions. The English Lime-tree (Tilia europcea), the 

 typical plant of the order, furnishes the bast used by gardeners. Bast mats are 

 made from it in Russia. From Corchorus capsularis, the Jute, the Indian 

 tribes made their nets and fishing-lines, while another variety of the same plant 

 was used by the Egyptians as a vegetable. It is said that one species of 

 Aristotelia possesses fibres of such strength and toughness, as to be used as 

 strings for musical instruments. Sparmannia africana, a pretty shrub with 

 umbels of white flowers, and with evergreen leaves, is cultivated in Britain as a 

 greenhouse plant. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Fruit a spinous capsule. Entelea, p. 242. 

 Fruit a drupe or berry. 2 



2. Leaves opposite. Aristotelia, p. 244. 

 Leaves alternate. Elseocarpus, p. 248. 



Genus Entelea. 



A genus of only one species, almost confined to the North Island of New 

 Zealand. Leaves alternate, flowers regular. Sepals and petals, 4 or 5. Stamens 

 numerous ; fruit spiny. (Name from the Greek, signifying perfect, referring to 

 the stamens, as opposed to the imperfect ones of Sparmannia). Maori names, 

 y Hauama. Fl. Oct. -Nov. 



Entelea arborescens (The Shrubby Entelea). 



The genus is confined to these islands, and this is its only 

 species. The tree may, therefore, be regarded as peculiarly 

 a New Zealand plant. Its large leaves and beautiful white 

 flowers make it one of the handsomest of small trees. It used 

 to be common along the coast of the northern part of the 

 North Island, being particularly plentiful north of Auckland 

 and in the neighbourhood of Gisborne. It is not found nearer 

 Wellington than Paekakariki, and in the South Island has been 

 seen only in the Collingwood district and near the Croiselles. 

 In some places this tree is called the New Zealand Mulberry, 

 on account of the shape of the leaves. 



These leaves are very large, sometimes nine or ten inches in 

 length, heart-shaped, and with toothed margins. They are 



