OLEA LANCEOLATA, Hook. f. 
THE MAIRE. 
OrDER—JASMINEX#. 
(Plates LX. and LXI.) 
Tus species, which is usually termed ‘ white-maire’’ by the Auckland wood- 
men, in its most developed state forms a round bushy-headed tree with white 
bark, and rarely exceeds 5oft. in height: the trunk is from rft. to 3ft. in diameter. 
Specimens less than 2oft. in height, with stems not exceeding 6in. in diameter, 
are frequently found producing fruit in abundance. It appears to have been 
originally discovered by Mr. Colenso, and to have been first described under its 
present name in the ‘‘ Flora Nove-Zelandie,”’ by Sir Joseph Hooker. 
The leaves are smooth and glossy in all stages, opposite, shortly petioled ; 
veins prominent on both surfaces. The leaves of the young state are narrow- 
linear, 3in. to 5in. long; in the mature state they are about 3in. long and about 
3in. broad, with a long sharp point. 
As in the other New Zealand species, the male and female flowers are pro- 
duced on different trees, and are destitute of petals. The racemes are very 
slender and jointed; the calyx is deeply cleft into four rather narrow mem- 
branous lobes. In the male flower the stamens are four in number: in the 
female flower the ovary is two-celled, with two divergent styles. The fruit is 
crimson, remarkable for its trigonous shape, and is more pulpy than that of the 
other species: it is usually one-seeded, but the second cavity is never completely 
obliterated. 
This species varies considerably in the shape of the leaves, but all the 
varieties may be arranged under two forms, one with the leaves widest near the 
base, the other with leaves widest at the middle. 
It flowers in November and December. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The wood of this species is very even and compact in the grain, but is 
rather lighter than that of Olea Cunninghamit. In old specimens the heartwood 
is dark and streaky, but usually it is destitute of figure, and of a dull-brown tint. 
It is suitable for machine-beds and bearings, for the teeth of cog-wheels, and for 
many purposes of the cabinetmaker, ornamental turnery, &c. It has been used 
by settlers for fence-posts, rails, &c. At present it is but little known, and has 
not come into general use. 
DiIsTRIBUTION. 
Olea lanceolata is restricted to New Zealand, and is most plentiful in the 
northern parts of the Auckland District, but is found also in other parts of the 
North Island, especially in the southern portion of the Wellington District. It 
is also found, although very sparingly, in the Kaituna and Rai Valleys in the 
Marlborough District, and at Wairoa in the Nelson District, South Island. 
It ascends from sea-level to fully 2,o00ft. 
