MELICYTUS RAMIFLORUS, Forster. 
THE MAHOE. 
OrpeER—VIOLARIEA. 
(Plate IIT.) 
Tuts tree is called by the natives mahoe in the North, hinahina in the South. 
[t was discovered during Cook’s first voyage by Banks and Solander, who gave 
it the manuscript name of Tachites uimbellulifera. During Cook’s second voyage 
it was rediscovered by Torster, and subsequently described under the name by 
which it is now generally known. 
Frequently it is little more than a shrub or even a small bush, but trees 
25ft. to 30ft. high with trunks from 12in. to 20in. in diameter are common ; 
specimens of still larger dimensions are occasionally observed. The head 
is rounded and very dense, owing to the vast development of short branchlets, 
which are of an extremely brittle character. In mountain forests it frequently 
forms a large portion of the undergrowth; but in situations of this kind the 
trunk usually divides at the base into a number of naked spreading arms, which 
cover a large space, and present an imposing appearance not frequently 
exhibited in lowland forests. ‘The leaves vary in shape: one tree may have all 
the leaves obtuse, while another in its vicinity may have every leaf acute. 
Sometimes obtuse and acute leaves may be found on the same branch. 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE GENUs. 
Melicytus comprises four species, all restricted to New Zealand, except 
M. ramiflorus, which extends to Norfolk Island. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
M. ramiflorus is common in woods from the North Cape to the Bluff, and 
has been reported from Stewart Island by Mr. D. Petrie, but has not been 
observed by other collectors, so that it is evidently rare in that locality. 
It ranges from sea-level to 2,80oft. or higher. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The foliage is eaten by cattle and horses, and is often of great value to 
settlers during dry seasons. 
The wood is of a pale-brown colour and very brittle, but is not of an 
ornamental character. 
Its chief value is for the production of charcoal for certain kinds of gun- 
powder, for which purpose it has been largely employed at the Owake Mills. 
lt is also used for firewood, and occasionally for inlaying. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Melicytus ramiflorus, lorster. 
A shrub or small tree 2oft. to 30ft. high. Leaves alternate, 3in. to 5in. 
long, carried on slender petioles; oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, obtuse or 
