MALLOWS AND RIBBON-WOODS 



25S 



The wood of this tree is white and very tough. It is 

 occasionahy used by cabniet makers, and makes excellent 

 firewood. A soothing drink was made from the bark by the 

 Maoris. 



Genu a Plagiantluis. 



Shrubs or trees, with rough inner barli, and divaricating branches. Flowers 

 axillary or terminal. Leaves usually entire. Seeds pendulous. (Name from 

 the Greek, signifying oblique, from the unequal petals). .3 sp. 



Fif^. 79. Hoberia populnea, var. angustifolia ih nat. size). 



Plagianthus divaricatus (Tlie Wide-branched Bibbon-wood). 



A curious shrub, with slender, widely-branched, tough stems. Leaves and 

 flowers both minute. Leaves fascicled ; flowers white, tubular, axillary. 

 Stamens, 6-10. Fruit a round capsule containing one or two seeds. Both 

 islands. Fl. Oct. -Nov. 



This plant is very different from the other species of the 

 genus. It grows only by the seaside, where it forms dense 

 bushes, which become very compact owing to the interlacing 

 of the dehcate sprays. Dials classifies it with Avicennia 

 as a mangrove plant, and, according to him, the stout. 



