'240 



PLANTS OF NEW ZEALAND 



Tlie leaves of the Wild Irishman are fairly abundant in spring, 

 become fewer in summer, and are altogether wanting in 

 autumn and winter. Most of the shoots are reduced to green 

 l)ungent spines, sometimes with brown tips. These when old 

 lose their chlorophyll, and become very hard and dry. They 

 ai-e then so strong and needle-like, that they were often used 



Fit^. 73. Discaria toumatou (i nat. size). 

 (Jloist air loriii on the left, ordinary form on the ri^ht.) 



by the Maoris for tattooing, when bone or other needles were 

 improcural)le. 



IJR. L. Cockayne's Expekiment. 



The small deciduous leaves, and hard green acuminate shoots 

 of Discaria at once proclaim it a plant of dry localities. As a 

 matter of fact, it is found chiefly on sand-dunes, on arid or 

 clayey hill-sides, and on stony plains. That it should acquire 

 such a highly xerophytic structure is therefore little to be 



