FREYCINETIA BAN^KSII. 
Native Name: — Tawhara. 
A VERY remarkable genus of chiefly Tropical Asiatic, Malayan, and Polynesian 
climbing plants, with long, rather grassy leaves. F. Banksii climbs the loftiest 
trees, rooting as it ascends, and branching copiously. Hook. jil. The inner 
leaves and spike are of a thick, white, juicy substance, which is said to make a 
good preserve ; the young Colonists are fond of eating it, a taste shared by the 
rats, so much so, that it is difficult to obtain a perfect specimen. The leaves 
are used for basket making. Hab. Northern and Middle Islands. It flowers in 
November. 
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