44 PODOCARPUS DACGRYDIOIDES. 
The root-fibres carry numerous globular bodies, which present a singular 
appearance; their structure is not fully determined, but, according to Hooker, 
they contain cells with spiral markings. 
The wood of the kahikatea is specially suitable for conversion into pulp for 
the manufacture of paper; as the raw material can be obtained in vast quan- 
tities in situations offering natural advantages for carrying out the process, it 
may become an important industry, although the current rates of labour are 
somewhat too high to allow the remunerative utilisation of secondary forest- 
products at present. 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
See Podocarpus spicata, p. 6, ante. 
DiIstRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Podocarpus dacrydiotdes is restricted to New Zealand, and is distributed 
throughout the colony, either scattered amongst other trees or forming extensive 
forests on low ground by river-sides, or in other swampy situations. It is 
more plentiful and attains a greater height on the western side of the South 
Island than the eastern. It is abundant in Southland, but is extremely rare in 
Stewart Island, where Dacrydium intermedium is converted at the sawmills, and 
sold as ‘‘ white-pine.”’ 
It is most plentiful at the sea-level or very low elevations, but ascends to 
fully 2,300ft. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Podocarpus dacrydioides, A. Richard. 
A lofty tree, 8oft. to 150ft. high; trunk, 2ft. to 5ft. in diameter; leaves of 
two kinds: on young trees arranged in a single row on each side of the branchlet, 
lin. long, flat, acute, of a bronzed hue; on old trees, minute, green, scale-like, 
subulate, imbricating, #yin. to yin. long. Male catkins, terminal, about gin. long 
before the pollen is discharged. Female, terminal, of from three to five incurved 
white carpellary leaves, each carrying a single ovule. Fruit, sessile, rounded, 
pulpy, bright crimson, with the black nut seated on the apex. 
EXPLANATION OF PLates XXXI. and XXALTIL, 
XXXI. Podocarpus dacrydioides, A. Rich. 1. Braneh from young plant. 
2. Mature branch, with male catkins. 3. Mature branch, with young fruit. All 
natural size, 
XXXII. Podocarpus dacrydioides, A. Rich, 1. Mature branch, with ripe fruit, 
natural size. 2. Male catkin before dehiscence. 3. The same after dehiscence. 
4 and 5. Front and back view of anther: all magnified. 6. Female flower, 
natural size. 7. Tip of.a branchlet, with female flower. 8. Another flower 
further advanced. g and 10. Female flowers still further advanced: all mag- 
nified, 11. First stage towards maturation: the carpellary leaves coherent, the 
ovules increasing in size. 12. The second stage: one ovule has rapidly increased 
in size, while the others are almost stationary. 13. Third stage: the growing 
ovule has nearly attained its full growth, and the carpellary leaves are slightly 
thickened. 14. Fourth stage: the growing ovule fully developed, and two abor- 
tive ovules at its base. 15. The ripe fruit, with the carpellary leaves developed 
into a receptacle, and partially investing the abortive ovules. 16, The same. 
17. Longitudinal section of seed. Figs. 11 to 15 are drawn of the natural size, 
with a magnified representation of each. Figs. 16 and 17 are also magnified. 
