ELASOCARPUS HOOKERIANUS, Raoul. 
THE POKAKA. 
OrbDER— TILIACEAE. 
(Plates XII. and XIII.) 
In some respects the pokaka bears considerable resemblance to the hinau, but 
may be readily distinguished on examination; it is usually of smaller dimen- 
sions, but often attains a height of over 5oft., with a trunk 3ft. in diameter and 
white bark. Its branches are less,numerous and spreading than those of the 
hinau, and the head is much narrower, so that it has a more picturesque effect. 
This tree presents widely different aspects at different stages of growth. In 
its young state the branches are tortuous and interlaced; the leaves are linear, 
waved, and deeply lobed. In the mature state the branches are straight, and 
the coriaceous leaves are uniform in shape, linear-oblong, sometimes very 
narrow, at other times elliptic. A curious feature is sometimes exhibited by old 
trees which develop branches bearing leaves characteristic of the young state, 
lobed or partially divided in such a way as to present some resemblance to 
the leaf of the English oak: occasionally numerous short branchlets, bearing 
curiously-lobed leaves, form a compact mass of irregular shape, causing the 
tree at a distance to present a singular appearance. 
The flowers are developed in racemes, and are of a greenish-white colour, 
resembling those of the preceding species in form, but smaller and less attrac- 
tive: the petals are more.deeply cut into narrow obtuse lobes, and the ovary is 
also two-celled with four ovules in each cell. The ovoid fruit is one-seeded, and 
resembles a small plum. The drawing is taken from a narrow-leaved specimen 
collected at Catlin’s River. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The timber has been utilised only to a limited extent at present, although I 
am informed that it 1s occasionally converted at the Southland sawmills. It is 
of a whitish colour, tough, and compact, but lacks durability. It has been used 
in the construction of earth-wagons in Southland with satisfactory results, and is 
now used for railway sleepers after being impregnated with creosote. It might 
be advantageously used for inside work in house-building, more especially for 
beams, joists, rafters, &c., while its toughness and compactness render it avail- 
able for brakes for wagons and coaches, also for the backs of brushes and similar 
purposes. 
The bark has been tested by Mr. Kingsland, of Invercargill, for tanning 
purposes, and found to produce good firm leather; it contains Io per cent. of 
tannin. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
This species is restricted to New Zealand, and occurs from the North Cape 
district to Stewart Island. North of the Waitemata it is rare and local; in 
many cases only a solitary tree is to be found for miles. In the Lower Waikato 
