446 
BOTANY. 
adapted for ship-building. Ake, ake rautangi, ( Dodoncea spa- 
tulata). This tree does not attain any size, but the wood is 
considered the hardest and toughest in New Zealand ; it was 
used for weapons of war. 
Fam. Bombacece.—Holiere {Hoheriapopulnea). A tree with a 
fine net-like fibre under the bark; both the leaves, bark, and 
flowers, which are white, have a glutinous taste, like the mal¬ 
low ; it does not attain any size. It is ornamental, but only 
medicinally useful; the leaves of the young shrub are different 
from those of the grown-up tree. The aute (ancient cloth) 
was formerly made from the inner bark of this tree ; it is still 
worn as ribbons. 
Fam. Tiliacece .— Wau (entelea arborescens). The wood of this 
tree is remarkably light, and is used by the natives instead of 
cork to float their nets. 
Fam. Eleocarpacece.—Hinau (Eleocarpus hinau ). A fine 
tree, with a bright green spiral leaf; the bark is rough and un¬ 
sightly ; it attains a considerable size and height. The wood 
is of a beautiful yellow color ; the berries are made into bread ; 
the bark is remarkably stringent, it is used as a brown dye, 
and by immersing the articles thus colored in a ferrugineous 
swamp, it is turned into a bright and durable black. 
Mako, makomako ( Friesia racemosa). This is a beautiful 
tree, bearing bunches of fragrant bell flowers, and currant¬ 
shaped berries, which are eaten. It closely resembles the 
ribes ; the leaves are reddish and transparent. 
Fam. SturculiacecB. —( Plagianthus ). 
Fam. Malvacece. — (.Hibiscus vesicarius). A fine plant of this 
family, bearing a large pink flower, is found at the North 
Cape ; it attains a height of nearly a yard. Another closely 
resembles one seen in our gardens; the flower is of a light 
primrose color, with a very dark centre. 
Fam. Linece. — Ririwa ( linum monogynum ). It grows about 
two feet high, and bears a fine white flower, sometimes edged 
with blue, and occasionally entirely blue. 
Fam. Caryophyllece vel Alsinacece. — (Arenaria media, stel- 
laria media). 
Fam. Elatinacece. — (Elatine gratioloides). 
