Am.  Jour.  Pliarm. ) 
August,  1884.  j 
Note  on  Tutu- Tutu. 
439 
NOTE  ON  TU-TU  (CORIARIA*RUSCIFOLI^.) 
By  T.  H.  Hustwick. 
The  "tu-tu"  plant  (pronounced  "toot/7  the  final  vowel  in  many 
Maori  words  being  only  an  aspirate  or  lip  sound  is  dropped  by  Euro- 
peans) is  indigenous  to  New  Zealand.  It  grows  luxuriantly  where 
situation  is  favorable,  and  prefers  an  exposed  site  on  rising  ground, 
with  a  dry  friable  soil;  its  average  height,  when  mature,  may  be 
taken  at  about  5  feet,  of  a  shrubby  herbaceous  character,  and  with  its 
spreading  branches  covering  a  considerable  extent  of  surface.  Sur- 
rounded by  sombre  ferns  and  withered  grasses,  the  effect  of  its  glossy 
dark  green  foliage  is  very  striking. 
Tu-tu,  though  commonly  spoken  of  as  a  poison,  is  such  only  under 
certain  conditions,  and  even  not  then  to  all  animals ;  the  horse,  goat, 
and  pig  being  said  to  be  entirely  proof  against  it  under  all  circum- 
stances; while,  conditions  being  favorable,  cattle  and  sheep  often  fall 
victims  to  it.  The  season  of  its  greatest  activity  is  in  spring;  then,  the 
wide  spreading  roots  throw  up  numerous  tender,  succulent  shoots, 
which  are  eaten  with  avidity  by  sheep  fresh  from  the  hills,  where  dry 
grasses  and  ferns  have  been  the  rule.  Cattle  browse  on  the  young 
leaves,  and  when  coming  to  them  fresh  from  other  pastures,  or  exhausted 
by  labor  or  travel,  nearly  always  with  fatal  effects.  It  is  said  that 
later  in  the  year  the  poisonous  property  is  greatly  diminished ;  that 
even  when  most  virulent  its  effects  are  much  ameliorated  by  a  pre- 
viously full  stomach,  and  that  the  system  can  become  accustomed  to  it 
by  gradual  use.  Animals  suffering  from  the  effects  of  this  plant  are 
said  to  be  "  tooted."  Its  principal  action  seems  to  be  on  the  brain 
and  nervous  centres,  and  produces  a  condition  similar  to  "staggers." 
The  animal  becomes  stupid  and  lethargic,  until  roused  into  a  fit  of 
mad  frenzy  by  any  trivial  circumstance,  during  which  it  is  dangerous 
for  man  or  beast  to  be  in  the  way,  the  frenzy  recurring  at  rapidly 
decreasing  intervals,  until  death  results  in  a  few  hours  from  sheer 
exhaustion.  The  only  remedy  that  appears  to  be  used  is  bleeding 
from  the  jugular  vein,  and  that  with  very  poor  success,  not  one  in  ten 
being  benefited,  while  the  exceeding  danger  attending  its  use  causes  it 
to  be  practiced  only  under  exceptional  circumstances.  I  am  not  aware 
what  is  the  effect  of  the  green  herb  on  man,  but  singularly  enough  the 
"berries"  when  ripe  are  grateful  and  refreshing  to  the  thirsty  palate, 
care  being  taken  to  reject  the  seeds.    A  common  method  of  utilizing 
