452 
NOTES TO THE 
with the following admirable description by the Eev. E. Taylor, 
Waimate, New Zealand : — ■ 
" The Aweto is only found at the root of one particular tree, the 
nata {Metroncleros rohiista). The root of the plant, which in every 
instance exactly fills the body of the caterpillar, attains in the 
finest specimens a length of three inches and a half, and the 
stem, which germinates from this metamorphosed body of the 
caterpillar, is from six to ten inches high. Its apex when in a 
THE AWETO, OR VEGETABLE CATERPILLAR OF NEW ZEALAND. 
state of fructification, resembles the club-headed bulrush in 
miniature, and when examined with a powerful glass, presents 
the appearance of an ovary. There are no leaves — a solitary 
stem comprises the entire plant, but if any accident break it off 
a second stem rises from the same spot. The body is not only 
always found buried, but the greater portion of the stalk as well, 
the seed-vessel alone being above ground. When the plant has 
attained its maturity it soon dies away. 
