384 Transactions. — Botany. 



rare, and wlieii produced are merely the linear leaves diminislied in size. In 

 some specimens of D. kirkii there is reason to believe that this transition is 

 not effected until the tree is thirty or forty years old. In D. bidwilUi this 

 change is effected by the end of the second or third year at most, although 

 occasionally branches exhibiting the early form of leaf are produced on the 

 trunk and primary hmbs of old specimens. D. colensoi requires an inter- 

 mediate period, and on old specimens of its most robust mountain form the 

 early leaf state is rarely seen. The members of this group exhibit a strong 

 tendency to produce aggregated fruit which attains its maximum in D. 

 kirkii. 



The species vary greatly in habit and dimensions. D. laxifolium is 

 perhaps the most diminutive pine known ; pigmy specimens may be covered 

 by a crown-piece. D. hidwillu is a dwarf, often prostrate, shrub. D. ciqores- 

 sinum is commonly 80 feet high or more, with a trunk 2-4 feet in diameter, 

 and weeping branches. D. colensoi is a small tree with short trunk and 

 heavy round head. D. kirkii is a noble species, 60-80 feet high, with 

 conical head and peculiar aspect from the lower spreading branches having 

 leaves resembling those of a Picea, while the upper fastigiate branches have 

 abbreviated cyijress-like foliage. 



Several species are of great importance from their economic value. D. 

 cupressinum, the rimu or red pine, yields the greatest portion of the 

 marketable timber produced in the South Island. It is of great value for 

 aU inside work, and is largely used for building purposes, but, although of 

 great strength, is not durable when ex^Dosed. It is largely used in the 

 manufacture of furniture. D. ivestlandicum, the Westland or white silver 

 pine, is of great durability, probably owing to the large quantity of oily and 

 resinous matter which it contains. It is exported from Westland to a 

 considerable extent, and fetches a higher price in the Westland markets 

 than any other timber except kauri. D. intermedium, the yellow silver pine, 

 is considered still more durable, and is highly valued on the west coast of 

 the South Island. D. colensoi, the yellow i)ine or tar-wood of the Otago 

 settlers, is another species of great durability, although of rather small 

 dimensions. D. kirkii, the manoao of the North Island, affords perhaps the 

 most durable timber of all : small trunks the thickness of a man's arm, 

 used as palisades in a Maori pa known to have been constructed ninety 

 years ago, are said to be still perfectly sound and good. This species was 

 sufficiently plentiful on the Great Barrier Island to admit of its conversion 

 a few years ago, and the timber was placed in the Auckland market under 

 the. name of Barrier pine ; but, owing to the removal of the machinery, the 

 supply has ceased. 



