BOTANY. 
437 
in caves and damp localities; it bears a fine dark crimson or 
purple flower. As epiphytes on trees grow ( Earina mucronata). 
The dendrobium Cunninghamii is a remarkable pendulous one. 
The bolbophyllum pygmeum is also of a similar character; 
they are fragrant and a great ornament to the forest. 
Amongst the climbing plants which cling to trees for sup¬ 
port, the most I'emarkable is the freycinetiaBanksii, a monoco- 
tyledononous plant, belonging to the family of the pandanacece. 
It chiefly attaches itself to the kahikatea. It bears a white 
flower; the bracteas of its blossoms are thick and fleshy, and 
when ripe are very sweet, with a flavor not unlike a luscious 
pear. It flowers in spring or September, and the fruit be¬ 
comes ripe in autumn, which is in March and April. 
Of the Piperacece. —There are two kinds, peperomia urvil- 
lianae , and the kawakaiva (piper excelsum), the representative 
of the piper methisticum, of the Sandwich and Tonga Isles. It 
is only used in New Zealand medicinally by the natives, who 
chew the root as a remedy for tooth-ache. The settlers use 
the leaf as tea, and also make a very palatable beer from 
it. The green fruit much resembles the Jamaica long 
pepper, and, when ripe, it has a rich luscious flavor. It is a 
delicate plant, and seldom seen in the forest, at a distance from 
the abodes of men ; the natives say they brought it with them. 
If a branch of the kawakawa were laid in the marae, or public 
square, it was regarded as an aitua, or omen of death. 
Fam. Winteracece.—Horopito (drimis axillaris). This is 
also a pepper tree, and a much more pungent one than the 
former; it abounds in the interior, but is not found in the 
north part of the island. 
Fam. Coniferacece.—Kauri (damara Australis). This beau¬ 
tiful pine is not found south of Kawia, on the westeni coast, 
and the Bay of Plenty on the eastern. Like the cedar of 
Australia, it is confined to the vicinity of the sea; it loves low 
sheltered localities, and a wet pipe-clay soil. The kauri forest 
forms a very deep deposit of turfy soil, which, being inter¬ 
mingled with much resinous matter when dry, burns with 
great facility. This tree produces large quantities of resin, 
which is now eagerly sought after as an article of trade, being 
