MELICYTUS RAMIFLORUS, Forster. 
THE MAHOE. 
Orver—VIOLARIE. 
(Plate III.) 
Tis tree is called by the natives mahoe in the North, hinahina in the South. 
It was discovered during Cook’s first voyage by Banks and Solander, who gave 
it the manuscript name of Tachites uinbellulifera. During Cook’s second voyage 
it was rediscovered by Forster, and subsequently described under the name by 
hich it is now generally known. 
Frequently it is little more than a shrub or even a small bush, but trees 
goft. high with trunks from I2in. to 20in. in diameter are common ; 
s of still larger dimensions are occasionally observed. The head 
and very dense, owing to the vast development of short branchlets, 
fan extremely brittle character. In mountain forests it frequently 
e portion of the undergrowth; but in situations of this kind the 
divides at the base into a number of naked spreading arms, which 
e space, and present an imposing appearance not frequently 
wland forests. The leaves vary in shape: one tree may have all 
use, while another in its vicinity may have every leaf acute. 
tuse and acute leaves may be found on the same branch. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
us comprises four species, all restricted to New Zealand, except 
, which extends to Norfolk Island. 
DistRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
niflorus 1s common in woods from the North Cape to the Bluff, and 
reported from Stewart Island by Mr. D. Petrie, but has not been 
d by other collectors, so that it is evidently rare in that locality. 
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 
seMiers 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, 
It is also used for firewood, and occasionally for inlaying. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Melicytus ramiflorus, Forster. 
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 
