ELAZSOCARPUS DENTATUS, Vahl. 
THE HINAU, 
OrpER— TILIACE/E. 
(Plate XI.) 
Tue hinau grows to a height of from 4o to 6o0ft., with a trunk seldom exceeding 
2s5ft. in length and from rft. to 3ft. in diameter, clothed with grey bark. In open 
places the tree forms a large, round, much-branched head; the branchlets are 
often naked except at the tips. The evergreen coriaceous leaves vary in shape 
from linear-oblong to lanceolate, and are clothed with white silky down beneath. 
The white pendulous flowers are produced in racemes, which spring from the 
axils of the lower leaves or from the naked parts of the branchlets, and develop 
purple fruits closely resembling small damsons in colour, form, and structure, but 
the stone is deeply furrowed. The ovary is two-celled, each cell containing four 
ovules, but during the process of maturation one cell is obliterated or nearly so, 
and all the ovules except one are absorbed, only a single seed being perfected. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The timber is of a light dull brown colour; the heartwood darker, often 
nearly black in old specimens: it is tough, strong, and durable ; as a general 
rule it is easily split. ‘Black hinau” is specially valued by settlers in the 
southern parts of the North Island on account of its great durability. 
In the Auckland District this timber is almost entirely neglected; but else- 
where it is used for bridges, culverts, sleepers, piles, posts, rails, survey-pegs, 
and other purposes requiring durability, with the happiest results. 
Usually the heartwood is sharply defined, and easily distinguished from the 
sap. Hinau burns with difficulty even when dry, and might therefore be advan- 
tageously employed for flooring and other purposes in situations where it is 
necessary to take special precautions against fire. 
The bark is of great value for tanning purposes, as it contains over 20 per 
cent. of tannin; it is, however, rarely utilised. A black dye was obtained trom 
the bark by the Natives, who also used the fruit for food. 
: DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Elzocarpus comprises about fifty species, occurring in tropical Asia, the 
Pacific Islands, and Australia, Two species are found in New Zealand. 
DiIsfRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Elaocarpus dentatus occurs from the North Cape southwards to Catlin’s 
River. It is more plentiful in the Wellington Provincial District than in other 
parts of the colony. In many districts it is but thinly scattered, 
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