39 
yielding Food for Man , 
the Derwent and Tamar, which may indeed be called 
estuaries. The fruit is ripe about the end of January, 
February, and March. 
Nat. Ord. Caprifoliace/e. Honeysuckle family. 
Sambucus Gaudichaudiana. 
The elder of this Colony lias an annual stem, seldom 
exceeds three feet in height, and is only found in the 
richest soil, in shady humid situations. It bears very 
large cymes of a white fruit, and of sweetish taste. In 
some places they may be collected in large quantities. 
Nat. Ord. Cinchonace^e. Peruvian Bark family. 
Genus, Coprosma . 
Of this genus, which belongs to the coffee section of 
Cinchonacece , there are three species in the Colony, all 
bearing esculent berries. 
C. hirtella or cuspidifolia (both being the same species), 
called “native holly,” is a shrub growing from 4 to 8 feet 
high in rocky places, and bears a large dark red or 
purple drupe, almost the size of a small cherry, contain¬ 
ing two seeds resembling in form flat coffee berries. 
The pulp, or succulent coating of the seeds, is of a 
sweetish flavour, but not very agreeable. This species 
seldom bears much fruit, nor is it sufficiently plentiful 
in one spot to be so useful as either of the two following 
species. 
C. micropliylla —one of many plants called in the 
Colony by the name of “ native currant.” This grows 
from 6 to 10 or 12 feet high, in almost every umbrageous 
ravine, and in many places forms the principal underwood 
in dense forests. The fruit is a small red round drupe, 
about the size of a small pea; and these it bears abund¬ 
antly. Some years ago, when our British fruits were 
scarce, it was made into puddings by some of the settlers; 
but the size and number of the seeds were objectionable.. 
