BOTANY. 
455 
sticking to its roots and branches, but it is not found south of 
Kawia. Ngaio, (myoporum Icetum,) a glossy-leafed tree, 
abounding near the sea. In the south it attains a considerable 
size; the wood is hard and durable; when young it is very 
ornamental, and valuable as a shelter from the sea air, which 
seems to suit it the best; it is often three feet in diameter. 
(—pubescens ,) a variety belonging to the Middle Island. 
Fam. Verbenacece. — Puriri, (vitex littoralis.) This tree is 
not found south of Kawia : it belongs to the same order as the 
teak, and seems to require the sea air. The leaf is glossy; 
the flower much like the anterinum; the wood is of a dark brown 
color, very close grained and heavy; it is extremely durable, 
and can only be worked when green. Posts nearly forty years 
in the ground have been found as fresh as when first put in. 
This valuable timber is generally much pierced by the grub of 
a large cerambix. 
Fam. Nolctnacece.—(Dicondra repens ). 
Fam .Moreacece. — (Broussonetia papyrifera.) 
Fam. Eupatoricece. — Pukapuka, (.Brachyglotis repanda,) a 
handsome shrub ; the leaves are very large and white under¬ 
neath. When the natives first saw paper, they compared it to 
these leaves, and hence both it and books in general are called 
puka pu/ca. Rani, (— rani,—rotund ifolia.) 
Fam. Juncacece. — Kowarawara (astelia BanJcsii ). It grows 
as an epiphyte, and also in swampy places. (Luzulapicta, astelia 
solandri, juncusmaritimus, — ejfusus — filiformis). 
Fam. Aracece. — Taro (calidium esculentum ). This plant 
was introduced by the natives when they first came; it is 
cultivated as an article of food. 
Fam. Typhacece. — Raupo ( typha angustifolia.). The root 
is edible ; the leaves are used in lining and roofing houses. 
Fam. Naiadacece. —( Polamogeton natans ). 
Fam. Juncaginacece. —( Triglochin flaccidum). 
Fam. Graminacece. — (Agrostis crinita, — ovata, — rigula ,— 
procera, — conspicua, — cemula, — Billiardieri, — Forsteri, — 
2)ilosa,) patiti, (Phalaris canariensis, Danthoniapallida, Bromus 
Australis, Schenodorus littoralis, Triticum scabrum, — repens, 
Voa Australis, — imbecilla, — ccespitosa, —Paspalum orbiculare, 
