GRISELINIA LITTORALIS, Kaoul. 
THE PAPAUMA, 
OrDER—CORNE EE. 
(Plate XLII.) 
THis handsome tree is known as the puka in many districts, but, in Mr. 
Colenso’s opinion, the name is applied erroneously. The Ven. Archdeacon 
\W.L. Williams informs me that in the East Cape district its native name Is 
papauma: Mr. C. Traill states that it is called kapuka on Stewart Island, and 
I have heard that name applied in Southland. It is usually termed ‘ broad- 
leaf’? by the settlers. 
This species appears to have been first observed by M. Kaoul, the medical 
officer of the French frigate ‘ L’ Aube,” during the stay of that vessel at Akaroa 
in 1840 and 1841, and was described under its present name in the ‘ Annales 
des Sciences Naturelles” (Vol. Il., p. 113, Series ii.), by MM. Raoul and 
Decaisne. Subsequently a fine plate was given by M. Raoul in ‘‘ Choix de 
Plantes de la Nouvelle-Zelande.” 
Usually it forms a handsome evergreen tree, from 4oft. to 6oft. high, with 
a conspicuous spreading head: it differs from the last species in being almost 
invariably terrestrial. The trunk is often crooked and gnarled, from aft. to 4ft. 
in diameter, with light-brown rugged bark. The leaves are from fin. to 3in. 
long on rather long footstalks, ovate or oblong-ovate, slightly wedge-shaped at 
the base, yellowish-green ; veins obscure on the under-surface. The flowers are 
produced in axillary panicles, which are less than half as long as the leaves, 
with very short branches, or often reduced to a single raceme. The male and 
female flowers are produced on different trees, and resemble those of the pre- 
ceding species in general appearance, except that petals are developed in the 
female flowers. The fruit is }in. in length, and of a blackish-purple. The 
flowers are produced in October and November; the fruit 1s ripe in May. 
Griselinia littoralis differs from G. /ucida in its terrestrial habit and larger 
dimensions ; in the smaller leaves, which are more symmetrical in shape and 
less glossy in appearance; in the smaller panicles, which have few and short 
branches; and in the female flowers being furnished with petals. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The great durability of this timber renders it of considerable value, notwith- 
standing its small dimensions : it is dense, firm, compact, and, although of great 
strength, slightly brittle; it is of a reddish colour, with faint markings, and 
shrinks to a very slight degree. Owing to the crooked and irregular habit of the 
trunk, it is rarely possible to obtain straight logs exceeding raft. in length, while 
those of the largest diameter are almost invariably hollow. T he crooked habit 
detracts from the value of the timber for certain purposes, but renders it specially 
suitable for the purposes of the ship-builder. It is of extreme durability, and 
splits with great readiness, notwithstanding its distorted habit of growth. It is 
18 
