MOUNTAIN RATA or IRONBARK. 
Metrosideros lucida, Menzies. 
A handsome tree, 30 to 50 ft. in height, not uncommon in hilly situations 
from the Thames river southwards. It is particularly abundant in the sounds on 
the South West Coast of Otago, and presents a magnificent sight when covered 
with its blight scarlet blossoms, which are often so abundantly produced as to 
clothe the whole forest with colour for miles together. The flowers are smaller 
than those of the tiue Rata (il. TobustaJ or Pohutukawa ( 3 f. totnantosaj but are very 
similar in structure. It flowers in January and February. 
