■ too 



PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



flowers, an anomaly that has nevei' heen fully explained. It is 

 l)i'obable that we liave here, examples of species that are 

 clianging from tlie liermaplirodite to the nnisexnal condition, 

 <ir vice versa. The [)roblem presented is one of considerable 

 mterest and importance, and should m the future attract the 

 attention of investigators. 



Meliaceae. 



The Family of Mahogany Trees. 



Distribution. — A tropical family of forest trees, which includes the 

 iMaliogany, the Indian Satin Wood, and the Red Cedar of Australia. Found 

 <:'hiefly in Asia and America. 



G-e)i US Dij-sar/jJii in . 



About 80 species, all large forest trees, often with a strong odour of garlic. 

 One species alone is found in New Zealand, and that is endemic. (Name from 

 the Greek, meaning sow or <icid, in allusion to the bitter principle contained in 

 the leaves.) 



Dysoxylum spectabile iTIic Handsome Dysoxijltim). 



A tree, often .50 ft. in height, with handsome glossy leaves, unequally 

 pinnate. Flowers ^ in. Viroad. white, produced in drooping axillary panicles. 

 The fruit is large and conspicuous, the hard thick capsule opening gradually, and 

 showing the brilliant scarlet covering of the seeds. This extra covering is called 

 the mil. (llaee is the aril of the nutmeg.) This tree is known to settlers as 

 the Neir Zealmifl Ci'iUir. l\taori name Knlifkohe. 1 sp. 



This is (jne of the most beautiful trees of the New Zealand 

 flora. Its large gloss>- leaves, its white, lily-of-the-valley-like 

 flowers, springing from the bare [)arts of trunk or branch, and 

 its large fruits, make it a cons[)icuous object in the busli of the 

 North Island, to which it is practically confined. In the South 

 Island it is rare, and is found (jnl\- in the nortlr of Nelson and 

 Mailborough. The leaves are very bitter, and an infusion of 

 thciu is sometimes used by bushmeii as a tonic. The wood is 

 light, and very useful for fencing ))<)sts m loose sand. In 

 such situations it is more durable than any other New Zealand 

 tree. 



