282 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



The long twining stems of the rata vines were used by the 

 Maoris for various purposes ; and references to them appear in 

 several legends. Metrosideros albiflora (the Akatea) gives rise 

 to the Maori equivalent of Nil desperandum. Thus an ancient 

 proverb runs : 



" Rangitihi upoko i takaia ki te akatea." 

 Rangitihi's head was bound up with the akatea. 



Rangitihi was a hero of old who had his head split by his 

 enemy's club. With splendid courage he bound the broken 

 skull round with akatea, and, encouraging his fleeing men, led 

 them on again. This time it was to victory. 



Metrosideros robusta (The North Island Rata). 



A tree, 50 ft. -100 ft. in height. Trunk sometimes 10 ft. in diameter. 

 Leaves lin.-ljin. long, oblong, obtuse, leathery, shining. Flowers in large 

 terminal cymes. Petals small, scarlet. Stamens 1 in. long, scarlet. Capsule 

 J in.-J in. long. North Island and northern extremity of South Island. 

 Fl. Dec. -Jan. Maori name Rata. 



This is the North Island rata. It is often described as 

 twining round some forest tree, ensheathing it, and finally 

 killing it by a close embrace; this account, however, misrepre- 

 sents, if it does not traduce, M. robusta. It does not begin 

 life as a climber, though there are species which do so, e.g., 

 Metrosideros florida ; but it very often germinates as an 

 epiphyte high up in the forks of a tree. The seeds are 

 minute, and readily blown about by the wind, so that they 

 may thus be driven to a considerable elevation. As the 

 young plant develops, it sends down roots towards the ground. 

 These roots inosculate, and slowly enclose the stem of the 

 supporting tree, which at last is crushed by the grip of the 

 rata (v. Fig. 88). This, at least, is the generally accepted 

 explanation. It must, however, be confessed that the details 

 of the process have hitherto escaped observation. Apparently 

 the only tree which can resist this iron hug is the puriri the 

 strongest and toughest of all New Zealand trees. It may 

 sometimes be seen bursting the encircling roots of the 

 epiphyte. 



