PODOCARPUS ACUTIFOLIUS, T. Kirk. 
THE ACUTE-LEAVED TOTARA. 
TH RAL. 
TRIBE—PODOCARPE. 
(Plate XXXIX.) 
Tne acute-leaved totara is a recent addition to the New Zealand flora, and was 
first observed by the writer near the source of the Buller River, in the South 
Island, in 1874, and described by him in “ The Transactions of the New Zea- 
land Institute ’’ for 1883.* 
Podocarpus acutifolius is an erect-branched shrub, from 3ft. to 6ft. in height, 
with pungent leaves. When growing in exposed places the branches are short 
and rigid, and the leaves close-set ; but when in sheltered situations the branches 
are slender, with the leaves laxly arranged and spreading. Leaves green, #in. 
or more long, narrow-linear, coriaceous, pungent, making the plant very prickly 
to handle. The male catkins are about rin. in length, very slender, and may be 
solitary or in clusters of from two to five on a short peduncle. Female flowers 
solitary in the axils of the leaves. Fruit, a brown nut seated on a crimson pulpy 
receptacle. The flowers are produced in December and January, and the fruit 
is mature in April and May. The properties and uses of this species are 
unknown. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
See under Podocarpus spicata, p. 6, ante. 
Podocarpus acutifolius belongs to the section Eupodocarpus, of which other 
species are found in New Zealand, as well as in New Caledonia, Tasmania, Fiji, 
and Columbia. 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Padocotius acutifolius is confined to mountain districts in the South Island, 
and appears to be local. At present it has only been collected in the Mart- 
borough District by Mr. Rutland; on the high land between Tophouse and 
Rotoiti, and about the lake, also in the valley of the Hope, and other places in 
the Buller Valley, by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman and myself, 
DESCRIPTION. 
Podocarpus acutifolius, T. Kirk. 
A much-branched erect shrub, 2ft. to 6ft. high; branches lax or slender; 
leaves scattered, #in. to tin. long, green, coriaceous, straight, linear, acuminate, 
spreading, pungent, mid-rib prominent beneath. Male ative solitary or in 
fascicles of from two to five, on peduncles 4in. to rin. long, extremely slender ; 
each catkin with an involucre of four scarious acuminate bracts at the base, 
connective obtuse. Female flowers solitary on short peduncles, invested with a 
* Trans. N.Z. Inst,, XV1., p. 370, t. XXVI. 
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