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local plant. There are good grounds for supposing the existence of an 

 undescribed species, attaining the height of 20 feet. 



Metrosideros robusta, A. Cunn. A dwarf form, 3--5 feet high, usually- 

 laden with old capsules, occurs at an altitude of 1800 feet, and upwards, and in 

 the absence of flowers and perfect fruit is referred to this species. 



Metrosideros tomentosa, A. Cunn. There appear to be three principal 

 forms of this tree, chiefly dependent upon habitat. (1). On rocky cliffs, and 

 in open places by the sea, it attains a large size., and is marked by its spreading, 

 gnarled, and distorted branches. (2). In woods near the sea it attains its 

 greatest height, and is of comparatively close and erect growth ; known to 

 bushmen as "inland Pohutukawa." The flowers of this form are smaller and 

 less brilliant than the others. (3). A coppice form, rarely more than 12 feet high 

 sparingly branched, and of erect, compact growth, flowering freely, the petals 

 being usually more acute than in either of the other forms. In large patches 

 on sandy soil not far removed from high-water mark ; makes capital firewood. 

 A specimen of the fu-st-nained form occurs on the beach at Tapu, the trunk of 

 which has a girth of upwards of 17 feet, and the two principal arms of 11. feet 

 and 8 feet respectively. It is of remarkably symmetrical proportions. Chiefly 

 through the public spirit of William Buckland, Esq. , it has escaped the 

 destruction which has befallen other noble specimens at Tapu, and has been 

 enclosed by a protecting fence. 



Panax, n. sp. A shrub or small tree 6-20 feet high, dioecious, bark and 

 leaves, especially on the under surface, having a peculiar bronzed appearance, 

 when fresh. Leaves on rather slender petioles 1-2 inches long, 3-foliolate, 

 leaflets 2-3 inches long, obovate lanceolate, cuneate at the base, coarsely 

 and sharply toothed, never sinuate-pinnatifid, glossy ; rarely a few unifoliolate 

 leaves are found intermixed with the ordinary form. Panicles invariably 

 terminal, male of few rays 2-3 inches long, flowers in slender pedicels J— § 

 inch long ; female much shorter, rays and pedicels stouter, fruit nearly as 

 large as in P. Lessonii, styles 5-cuneate at the base, tips recurved, flowers 

 greenish-yellow. 



Somewhat resembling P. Simplex, but the leaves are trifoliolate in all 

 stages, the panicles dioecious and terminal, and styles 5. Found also on the 

 Great and Little Barrier Islands, from the sea-level to the highest peaks; and 

 I have long known a solitary clump of small barren trees in the forest at 

 Omaha, which I wrongly referred to P. Sinclairii, when first observed. 



Panax arboreum, Forst. This plant assumes two marked forms, which 

 present wide external differences, although difficult to distinguish on paper. 

 (1). A shrub or small tree, in the former state with stout, rather long, 

 branches, and large leaves, the branches ultimately becoming shorter, and the 

 leaves shorter, as the tree grows old, when it pi*esents an unattractive 

 appearance. (2). A shrub with many short and stout branches, leaves more 

 glossy and of a deeper green, much larger and bolder than in the last ; petioles 

 stouter with wider bases, umbels much larger, and rays more deeply channelled. 

 The first is the common form at the Thames, and is often clothed with 

 Twpeia antarctiea ; the last, which would form a handsome plant for the 

 shrubbery, I have only seen at the Thames, and in the Waikato. Both forms 

 may be seen growing together. 



Panax Colensoi, D. O, appears to find here its northern limit, and is 

 extremely local, occurring at an altitude of 1600 to 2800 feet. All the young 

 plants observed had pinnatifid leaflets, closely resembling those represented in 

 "Flora Novas Zelandise," "Vol. i., pi. 21, but of a purplish hue, certainly not 

 P. Edgerleyi. P. Sinclairii was not observed. 



Schefflera digitata, Forst. The young leaves of this plant, in some of the 

 higher and deeper gullies more especially, are lobulate and pinnatifid to a 



