70 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



with tlie weeping, copper-tmted brandies below, and ordinary 

 upright ones above. These are generally young trees of from 

 ten to twent)- years old. 



At a certain time of the year the matai trunks present a 

 l)rilliant appearance. Where the bark peels off, bright scarlet 

 or crimson patches appear below, and a tree thus scaled is a 

 Ijeautiful object. 



The wood of this tree is of great value, but is very slow in 

 groAvth. It is often used for the floors of ballrooms, skating- 

 rinks, etc., as it takes an excellent polish, and can be made to 

 reflect almost like a looking-glass. One curious fact in 

 connection with this timber is, that it will lie prostrate m the 

 Inish for years without decaying. Mr. Buchanan tells of a 

 prostrate niiitai over which three broadleaf trees (Gri^eliiiia 

 liftoralis) had grown, enfolding it with their roots. These trees 

 were calculated to be over :^00 years old, yet the matai was 

 perfecth" sound, and wslh split up for fencing posts. Another 

 was discovered with a fuchsia stem nine inches in diameter 

 growing acr(«s it. 



One would not at first sight, imagine the matai to be one of 

 the Coniferae, as its leaves are flat rather than needle-shaped,, 

 and its fruit is like a small black plum, containing only one 

 seed. The cotyledons, also, are two in number, as in any 

 broad-leaved tree. The shape of the mature tree is not conical 

 like tha,t of a pme, but sprea.dmg, after the fasliion of an 

 ordinary dicotyledon. 



Podocarpus dacnydioides (Tlir I)<icrii<liiivi-lil;e Podocarpiis or 



T17w:/e Pine.) 



N:i,tive name, ICahikut™. Thu follijwin,u, iicol)alily fanciful, dcrivatiiiii ha.s- 

 lirtai given nf this namn : ten, 'ivlitfisli. frraii the colour of the wood, and lnliil,-ii, 

 an iinr\p)it chirf. 



The Nga-potiki Maoris tell a prett\' story concerning the 

 origin of this stat'.ely tree. It is said that a, chief named 

 I'ou-ranga-liua Avas once blown out to sea in his canoe and 

 cast a.shore upon a. strange island. The name of this island 



