BuciiAis-AN. — Sketch of tlie Botany of Otago. 195 



Panax lineare. A pretty little shrub, found on the "West Coast. 



Horoeka {Panax crassifollum). A singular-looking plant in all stages 

 of its growth. Three varieties are found at Dunedin, only distinguishable 

 in the young state and method of inflorescence. Young plants with narrow, 

 rod-Hke stems, from 1-12 feet high, topped with a few" reversed long linear 

 leaves, the varieties having different markings and amount of serrations. 

 The full-grown tree has a long, naked trunk, 12 inches diameter, round- 

 headed, erect foliage, and half umbellate branches. Wood hard Avhen dry. 



G-um-tree {Panax colensoi). A showy, small tree, with large, shining, 

 3-foliolate leaves in all stages of growth. Yf ood soft, white ; burns well 

 when dry. Bark exudes gum when wounded. Branches half umbellate. 



Panax arhoreiom. A small tree, similar to the last, Avith 5-f oliolate leaflets 

 petioled. Found on the West Coast. 



Pate {Schefflera digitatci). A small tree, common everywhere in Otago. 

 There is probably a variety of this plant in Auckland, as young plants there 

 have the 7 leaflets deeply lobulate, which they never have in Otago. Wood 

 soft, white, useless. 



LiME-TEEE Family. — Makomako {Aristotelia racemosd). A small, 

 beautiful, quick-growing shrub-tree, with large leaves, and large panicled 

 racemes of pink flowers and berries. Wood soft, white, light ; makes pretty 

 veneers. 



Aristotelia colensoi. A small shrub-tree, similar to the last, common on 

 the Clutha. 



Aristotelia friiticosa. A small, sub-alpine shrub, common in hilly dis- 

 tricts. 



Hinau {Elceocarims dentatus). A large tree, with fastigiate branches ; 

 and a variety with foliage in a round, dense head, leaves also differing in 

 length, and amount of recurved margins. Wood of both whitish, heavy, 

 [not] lieart tvood durable. 



Pokako {ElcEocarpus Iwoherianus) . A large, round-headed tree, near 

 Dunedin ; common also on the West Coast. Young plants are very orna- 

 mental, differing entirely in foliage, till 4-6 feet high, often forming flat, 

 table-topped shrubs. Wood not durable. 



Tutu Family {Coriaria ruscifolia var). — The plant known as tutu on 

 the pasture lands of Otago is a strong, robust shrub 3-6 feet high, dying 

 down to the ground every year. The roots creep and interlace below the 

 surface, forming sometimes considerable masses of spongy wood, which, when 

 dried, have been used as fuel. 



In the spring, stems spring up from any part of the root, forming often 

 a close growth, impenetrable to everything but pigs. 



Tree tutu {Coriaria ruscifolia). A small shrub-tree, AAdth a trunk 6-8 



