BOTANY. 
701 
necting link with the fern tree, and was formerly cultivated ; 
it is easily raised by setting the scales, which bear cutting 
like the potatoe, its slow growth is the only objection. 
The Arabia polaris is one of the most singular plants of 
the Auckland isles, growing in large orbicular masses on 
rocks and banks, near the sea, or amongst the dense and 
gloomy vegetation of the woods and swamps ; it is singular 
that the same plant should flourish in such dissimilar locali- 
ties, it has proved a great blessing to shipwrecked mariners, 
who have almost lived upon it, and containing much sac- 
charine matter affords considerable nourishment, its copious 
bright green foliage and large umbels of waxy flowers have a 
most striking appearance.* Some of the sailors who have 
been cast away on the Auckland Isles, brewed beer from it. 
The palm tree is found in every part of the Northern 
Island, and, perhaps, to lat. 43 south, the fern tree 46, the 
kauri 38, the puriri 39, the mangrove 37, the taraire 37, the 
pohutukawa 39, the hutu 35. 
The Beech, betulus, commences in lat. 39, and extends 
south to the Auckland Isles. Most of the remarks upon cli- 
mate made by different authors chiefly apply to the sea coast. 
Raupo, or bulrush of New Zealand. When I first went to 
my station at Wanganui, an old tohunga, who was well 
acquainted with the botany of his country so far as related 
to plants suitable for food or medicine, used to take me into 
the parts where different edible substances grew, that as he 
said I might never be at a loss to find food on any of my 
journeys when in want of it. Amongst other things he 
pointed out the raupo, and pulling up a plant of it out of the 
water he took its large root, and peeling off the outer skin 
bid me eat it; I found it contained a mass of farinaceous 
matter, intersected with fibres, when chewed it had a some- 
what agreeable flavor of vanilla; he told me it was quite 
wholesome and nourishing, and I have no doubt this might 
be turned to account. The long broad leaves of this plant 
are used in building their houses, as is implied by the name 
Raupo, leaves to form a shelter at night, and the pollen, 
* Flora antarctica, p. 20. 
