Corzwso.—JBofany of the North Island of New Zealand. 237 
axillaris), the manukarauriki (Leptospermum ericoides), the kohuhu (Piétos- 
porum tenuifolium), the kowhai, especially the small-leaved mountain variety 
(Sophora tetraptera var. grandiflora), the koromikotaranga (Veronica, several 
species), the mairehau (Phebalium nudum), the toro (Persoonia toro), the 
pukapuka (Brachyglottis repanda), the northern maire (Santalum cunning- 
hamii),the tawari (Lrerba brexioides), the tipau (Myrsine urvillei and M. 
salicina), the tangeao (Tetranthera calicaris), the ramarama (Myrtus bullata), 
the ti (Cordyline australis), the kahikomaka (Pennantia corymbosa), the pate 
(Sehefflera digitata), the horoeka (Panax crassifolia) ; and on the sea coast, 
the karaka (Corynocarpus levigata), the karo (Pittosporum erassifolium), and 
the truly ever-green ngaio (Myoporum letum) —fit symbol of vigorous 
health on its barren and desolate beaches !—while the tree-ferns are 
universally praised for elegance of form, and wherever seen, add an 
indescribable charm to the landscape, and draw willing homage from the 
delighted admirer. 
7. The large virgin forests are generally composed of trees different in 
genera and sizes. The kauri pine is always associated with other trees, yet 
its loftiness, its colossal bulk, and peculiar growth—including a huge mound 
of 8 to 12 feet in height around its base, composed of its own fallen 
deciduous scales of outer bark—ever give the forest in which it grows a 
highly characteristic appearance, so that such is truly a kauri forest. A 
few only of our timber trees can be said to form large forests of a single 
species, such as (on the low grounds) kahikatea or white pine (Podocarpus 
dacrydioides) ; this alone of all the timber trees is chiefly found growing 
thickly together. The totara (P. totara), may also sometimes be found 
forming clumps or groves. The tawhai or black birch (Fagus solandri) is 
frequently, in the south parts of the island, the prevailing tree on the sides 
of clayey hills, where it forms continuous woods. The tawa (JNesodaphne 
tawa), on both dry hills and low alluvial grounds, is commonly found forming 
large forests. On high grounds in the interior, especially on the old sand- 
stone (palæozoic), the tawhairaunui (Fagus fusca) often grows together in 
large forests; and the peculiar glory of these woods is their openness and 
freeness from underwood, so that a traveller may run through them, to the 
great danger, however, of losing the track. And, at a much higher elevation 
—4,000 to 6,000 feet—on the top of the mountain ranges, grows an allied 
species, F. cliffortioides; and with it many small tough thick-growing 
gnarled shrubs as underwood, which can only be passed by walking on (not 
among); and which, with the prostrate and concealed rotten trees and 
branches, sadly try the traveller's strength and patience, causing him to 
wish he was again in the low alluvial woods by the watereourses, among the 
supple-jaeks, Polygonums, and brambles ! 
