OLEA GCUNNINGHAMIL. 105 
for the heading of a newspaper, but, after some years’ use, fine horizontal cracks 
appeared, possibly due to its having been imperfectly seasoned before being 
engraved. 
Logs of large dimensions, with sound bark in contact with the ground, retain 
sufficient vitality to develop shoots 18in. long two years after being felled: this 
shows the necessity of having the timber properly seasoned when required for 
permanent works. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
See under Olea apetala, p. 38, ante. 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Olea Cunninghanut 1s endemic in New Zealand, being practically restricted 
to the North Island, with one or two habitats in the north-eastern corner of the 
South Island. Although not infrequent, it is comparatively rare and local north 
of the Auckland Isthmus, becoming more plentiful and obtaining larger dimen- 
sions in the deep gullies between the Waikato River and the West Coast, also 
on the Cape Colville Peninsula, Te Aroha, &c., some parts of the Hawke’s Bay 
and Taranaki Districts. It occurs in great abundance in many localities south 
of Ruapehu, as the Mairepai Forest, Rangatana, and much of the country 
between Ruapehu and Wanganui, the valley of the Mangaone, some parts of 
the Rangitikei, the lower slopes of the Rimutaka Ranges, the Ruamahunga, 
&ec., &c. 
In the South Island it formerly existed in the Waimea district, but its 
value was discovered, and the tree speedily cut out. It is still to be found on 
the Conway River, growing on both banks, the north bank of course being in 
the Marlborough District. One or two solitary trees are known in the IXai- 
kouras and in Pelorus Sound, but it is extremely rare in the South Island. 
It ascends from the sea-level to 2,300ft. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Olea Cunninghamii, Hook. f. 
O, afetala, A. Cunn. (not of Vahl). 
A lofty dicecious evergreen tree, often 7oft. high, with a trunk 2ft. to 5ft. in 
diameter. Twigs with white or brown bark, pubescent. Leaves opposite, 
shortly petioled, very coriaceous, rough on both surfaces, of two forms: on young 
trees, narrow-linear, 6in. to 1oin. long, about din. broad; mature state, 2in. to 
6in. long, Ijin, to 13in. broad, oblong-lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, obtuse 
or acute. Flowers in jointed axillary racemes, destitute of petals, rhachis and 
pedicels hairy, ten- to seventeen-flowered. Male, calyx unequally four-lobed ; 
stamens, two; ovary abortive. Iemale, stamens two, abortive ; ovary oblong, 
two-celled, each cell containing two ovules. T[ruit, crimson, ovoid, about in. 
long, narrowed upwards; one- or rarely two-seeded. 
EXPLANATION OF PLates LIX., LIXa., ann LIXp. 
LIX. Olea Cunningham, Hook. f. Young state, natural size. 
LIXa. Olea Cunninghamu, Hook. f. Mature state, with female flowers, 
natural size. 
LIXs. Olea Cunninghamu, Hook. f. Fruiting specimen, natural size. 
ie, Ovary. 2. Ovary, transverse section. 3. Ovary, longitudinal section. All 
magnified. 
27 
