OF NEW ZEALAND. 
47 
of most of the bays and harbours of the northern 
island of New Zealand. Indeed, it flourishes best 
on those rocks where it would appear impossible 
that a plant of such large dimensions should be 
able to derive sustenance ; as nothing is visible, 
but the barren rock to which it has attached 
itself. Its leaves are large, and of a very deep 
green: in December and January it puts out 
large quantities of flowers of the most splen- 
did crimson colour, larger than a good-sized 
rose ; and of the class Polyandria, having an 
immense number of stamens, with a little light 
dust clinging to the top of each. The back of 
this tree is grey, and the wood brittle, hard, 
heavy, and dark. It is very difficult to work, 
from its hardness ; as it breaks or turns the edges 
of almost all the tools used in preparing it It 
receives the finest polish, and would be taken for 
a very handsome rose-wood ; as a substitute for 
which it answers well. I should conceive it to 
be one of the most durable, as well as the darkest 
and hardest woods of New Zealand. It sometimes 
grows to four or five feet in diameter, but is 
crooked and mis-shapen. 
Aki — called the Lignum vUcb of New Zealand, 
from its hardness, weight, and colour : is useless 
for all common purposes, and is very difficult to 
work. It is a crooked short tree, scarcely more 
than a useful shrub, being not of larger diameter 
than from six inches to a foot. Its wood takes 
the most beautiful polish ; and its grain seems to 
