"■^38 PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



ancestral liome, Hawaiki, tlie place whence the Maoris originally 

 migrated to New Zealand." But, unfortunately for the lover 

 of romance, there is a sequel to the tale. When the earthen 

 pot of tradition, and the iron pot of science, go down the 

 stream together, it is the former which is likely to be broken. 

 Kirk has shown (Forest Flora, p. 11) that the plant is none 

 other than the Australian Pomaderris apetala. Moreover, the 

 genus Pomaderris, so far as is at present known, is peculiar to 

 New Zealand and Australia, and does not occur in the South 

 Seas. It is obvious, therefore, that the story has grown up to 

 explain the tree, and that the presence of the plant in New 

 Zealand is no proof of the truth of the legend. Indeed, on 

 examination of the tale, discrepancies in it soon appear. The 

 species is not confined to the habitat where it was first found, 

 nor was the " Tainui " stranded near the Mokau, but at Kawhia. 



Pomaderris phylicaefolia {The Phijlica-lcaved Pomaderris). 



A strongly scented, heath-like shrub, which grows profusely amongst the 

 small tea-tree, upon gum-lands. The branches are thickly covered with soft 

 hairs, and the leaves so much recurved as to appear to be round rather than flat. 

 The flowers are axillary, in cymes of 3-5, and are of a yellowish colour. North 

 Island. PI. Aug. -Oct. Maori name r«;(/!in.».' (P/f7//ica is an African genus of 

 the order, consisting of heath-like shrubs). 



This plant is often abundant in the open country in the 

 North Island, and constitutes, particularly in Auckland 

 Pr(jvince, one of the chief components of the lowland heaths. 

 Its structure also is typical of the heath-plant. The small 

 leaves bear their stomata on the under-surface, in wind-still 

 tubes, formed by the mrolled margins and the rough hairs. 

 Transpiration is thus checked, and the plant is enabled to 

 withstand long continued insolation. Similar leaves may be 

 found in Olearia virgafa, Gassinia retorta, and Celmisia 

 long ifolia . 



The roots of this jjlant were, according to Colenso, some- 

 times used for fish-hooks, when bone ones were lacking. 



^This name is also applied to Gassinia Ifpfophulltt. 



