50 KNIGHTIA EXCELSA. 
miniature boat. The seeds are narrow-linear, and winged at the tip. The 
flowers are produced in December and January, but the fruit does not ripen 
until October. After the seeds are liberated, the pericarp remains on the tree 
until the seeds of the following year are nearly matured. 
The rewarewa is often termed ‘‘ honeysuckle’’ by the settlers, but it is not 
easy to imagine any reason for the application of the name, which is also given 
with equal lack of meaning by Australian settlers to the closely-related Banksias 
r ‘‘bottle-brush ”’ trees. 
PROPERTIES AND USES. 
The mean specific gravity of rewarewa is +785, its weight per cubic foot 
48-g2lb., and its mean ultimate strength 161lb.: 2¢., a piece 12in. long and 
Tin. square, supported at one end and loaded at the other, will carry 16ilb, 
before breaking.* Rewarewa affords an ornamental timber of great strength, 
but is not dpuabis when exposed; it is usually of a deep-red colour, straight 
in the grain, and beautifully mottled; the ‘‘silver grain” varying remark- 
ably in size and distribution, so that it is in some request for the purposes of 
the cabinetmaker and for decorative fittings generally. It has been employed 
for the saloon-fittings of one or two of the small coastal steamers trading from 
Auckland, but, owing to its somewhat dark hue, requires to be relieved by light- 
coloured woods. It is highly valued for inlaid work generally, tables, writing- 
desks, stationery-cases, &c., as well as for all kinds of ornamental turnery ; it is 
also employed for inside work in houses, occasionally for flooring-boards, or even 
for upper weather-boarding. It is, however, somewhat wasteful to use it for 
purposes of this kind when other timbers can be procured. Ha constant supply 
could be placed on the English market, it would meet with a ready sale. At 
present large quantities of this fine timber are destroyed yearly by settlers who 
are ignorant of its value, or who have no means of getting it to market. 
It might prove of value for special purposes in which it is desirable to 
minimise the risk of fire, as it is a timber very difficult of combustion. This 
may be frequently seen in settlers’ clearings after burning off, trunks of rewa- 
rewa 6oft. or Soft. long very often being little more than scorched. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Knightia consists of two species, one of which is peculiar to New Zealand, 
the other to New Caledonia. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Knightia excelsa extends from the North Cape, through the lowland wooded 
districts of the North Island, and crosses Cook Strait. In the South Island, it 
was formerly plentiful in Pelorus Sound and other parts of Marlborough, but 
has gradually been converted by the sawmiller, so that, except in a few lacalities: 
it is now rare and local. It occurs sparingly in Croixelles Harbour, in the 
Nelson District, but is of small size. 
It ascends from sea-level to 2,60oft. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Knightia excelsa, R. Brown. ‘Transactions of the Linnean 
Society,’’ Vol. x., t. 2. 
An erect close-branched tree, tooft. high; trunk, 2ft. to 3ft. in diameter, 
branches ascending. Branchlets and inflorescence clothed with velvety down. 
_ Ee 
* Balfour's Experiments. 
