OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1912. 



51 



34715 to 34724. 



From Wellington, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. G. J. Clapliam, Public 

 Works Department. Received December 4, 1912. 

 Quoted notes from Blackwell and Laing, Plants of New Zealand: 



34715. Metrosideros tomentosa A. Rich. Pohutukawa. 

 "This handsome tree, sometimes 70 feet in height, with spreading branches 



and brilliant scarlet flowers in large terminal cymes rarely grows far from the 

 sea or an inland lake. It finds a foothold in all sorts of impossible-looking 

 places. Often it clings to the side of a cUff, and puts forth long twisted roots 

 that attach it to the rocky wall. Specimens may frequently be found hanging 

 from the top of a bank, with the roots above, and the branches almost dipping 

 into the sea below. When growing on level ground, great bunches of red 

 fibrous rootlets may occasionally be seen hanging from the boughs. These d" 

 not reach the ground, and their function is unknown. The timber is extremely 

 hard and durable." 



34716. Cliaxthus puniceus (Don) Solander. Kowhai. 

 "A white-flowered form of the kowhai, which in its scarlet-flowered form is 



one of the most gorgeous of New Zealand flowering plants. With its flowers 



2 inches in length in long pendulous racemes and its heavy, dark-green, glossy, 

 pinnate leaves it should prove a desirable addition to the drooping shrubs 

 siutable for growing in regions having but slight frosts. The flowers are said 

 to be pollinated by birds, in its native haunts. " 



34717. DoDONAEA viscosA (L.) Jacq. 



"A small hard-wooded tree with viscid shoots, and linear-oblong leaves 1 to 



3 inches long. Flowers green, in small terminal panicles. Fruit dark brown, 

 flat, winged. Occurs in dry woods on both islands of New Zealand. The 

 wood is much valued by settlers for making mauls, as it does not split." 



34718. Gaultheria oppositifolia Hook. f. 



"The gaultherias are the most attractive of the native New Zealand heaths, 

 with tiny white bell-shaped flowers." 



34719. Gaultheria rupestris (L. f.) Don. 



"A very variable erect or prostrate bush, with small white flowers in racemes, 

 occiuring among rocks throughout both islands of New Zealand." 



34720. Phormium tenax Forst. . Phormium. 

 "Ornamental form with green and purple leaves. Some forms will stand 



temperature as low as 15° F. without injury and only at 9° F. are the leaves 

 killed." 



34721. PiTTOSPORUM BUCHANAXI Hook. f. 



"A species from New Zealand, wliich may prove useful like other species for 

 ornamental hedges. Seeds coated with a viscid substance." 



34722. PiTTOSPORUM RALPHii Kirk. 



"A beautiful, somewhat laxly branched shrub 15 to 20 feet in height, found in 

 the central district of the North Island of New Zealand. Its dark-crimson 

 fascicled little flower bells with their slightly emergent yellow anther tips, rest- 

 ing on the downy white young foliage, make it, when in bloom, one of the most 

 attractive of the large New Zealand shrubs. The ripe introrse anthers may often 

 be found in contact with the viscid stigmas, so that the plant is probably fre- 

 quently self -pollinated." 



