GRISHELINIA LUCIDA, Forster. 
THE PUKA. | 
ORDER—CORNE/E. 
(Plate XLI.) 
Mr. Corenso informs me that the Native name ‘“ puka’’ is correctly applied to 
this species as well as to Meryta Sinclaivii. In the Auckland District it is termed 
by the settlers “‘paukatea” or ‘“‘poukater.’’ The latter name is stated by Raoul 
to be the Native name for G. littoralis. 
It attracts the attention of the traveller in the northern forests by its 
remarkable epiphytic habit: the fruits are eaten by birds, and often ejected 
amongst the asteliads and orchids growing in the forks or on the branches of 
some lofty tree, where the seed germinates, and the plant grows vigorously until 
its luxuriant glossy foliage mingles with that of the tree on which it grows, and 
to which its large leaves of the richest green usually offer a marked contrast. 
This is especially the case when the rata (M. robusta) is the supporting tree: 
the small size of its crowded leaves is strongly brought out when they show 
amongst the large leaves of the puka. 
Although frequently found growing on other trees, the puka is often terres- 
trial, and even when epiphytic not unfrequently sends an aerial root down the 
side of the supporting trunk until it reaches the ground, from which the plant 
at once derives an increased supply of nourishment. 
This species does not attain the large dimensions of G. littoralis, but speci- 
mens may be found 30ft. or more in height, although it is frequently reduced to 
a mere bush. On Rangitoto Island, at the entrance to the Waitemata, speci- 
mens less than 2ft. high, growing on almost naked rock, may be seen flowering 
profusely, and exhibiting the utmost luxuriance of foliage, notwithstanding their 
dwarfed stature. The trunk rarely exceeds rift. in diameter, and is usually much 
less, but specimens are known with trunks 2ft. through. Branches and trunk 
are usually crooked, which detracts from the value of the timber. The bark on 
old specimens is furrowed and uneven. The leaves are from 4in. to 6in. long, 
and are quite entire, but vary in shape. Usually they are obliquely ovate or 
oblong, rounded at the apex, the leaf being usually broadest above the middle: 
one side of the leaf is much narrower at the base than the other, so that the leaf 
is unsymmetrical. The leaves are carried on short rather stout leaf-stalks, and 
the veins are prominent on the under-surface. 
The male and female flowers are produced on different trees, and are usually 
developed in panicles springing from the axils of the leaves. The male panicles 
are usually longer than the leaves; the female are usually shorter. The male 
flowers are yellow, and present a showy appearance when fully expanded: they 
have a minute calyx, five yellow petals, and five stamens. ‘The female flowers 
are green and inconspicuous, being destitute of petals, and are succeeded by 
large blackish-purple fruits. 
