110 COPROSMA BAUERIANA. . 
“’ Arawa’’? canoe which landed the original Maori immigrants in the Bay of 
Plenty. A small clump of naupata at Maketu is still pointed out as descendants 
of the trees originating from the paddles planted on that spot, and it is claimed 
that the naupata has spread from this grove all round the coast of the North 
Island. Unhappily for the credit of the legend, the naupata is not known to be 
indigenous outside New Zealand, except on the coast of Norfolk Island. 
PROPERTIES AND UsEs. 
The wood of Cofrosma Baueriana appears to be of little valuc, and is but 
rarely used, except in coast situations where firewood is difficult to procure, 
when the settlers occasionally utilise it for this purpose. The wood is remark- 
ably straight in the grain, close, but rather brittle, and easily split: it is fre- 
quently white throughout, but usually the heart is red: when split it speedily 
assumes a uniform reddish-brown tint. It is not durable when exposed. 
It has been suggested that the seeds would afford a good substitute for 
coffee, and that their cultivation for this purpose would prove remunerative, but 
it is not easy to see how such a result could be realised at the current rates of 
labour.* 
The naupata is of great value for ornamental planting and for affording 
shelter for plantations of timber-trees on the sea-coast, as it is able to resist the 
force of the most violent gales and the dashing of the spray, which only serves 
to give a brighter appearance to its fleshy leaves. It will grow on the most 
rugged rocks, or on pure sand, but requires fairly good soil to enable it to 
attain its largest dimensions. i 
It is excellent for hedges, and bears clipping freely. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
-Coprosma comprises about forty species, of which at least thirty are found in 
New Zealand, all of which are restricted to the colony except C. pumila, which 
extends to Australia. Five species are found in Australia, one: of which is 
C. pumila mentioned above. A few species occur in the Pacific, Chili, Juan 
Fernandez, the Sandwich Islands, &c. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
——_— 
Coprosma Baueriana occurs on the Kermadec Islands, and on many parts of 
the coast of the North Island, from the North Cape to Cook Strait, but it is | 
sometimes absent for long distances, especially where the coast is sandy. In 
the South Island-it occurs from the Pelorus westward to the West Coast, and 
southwards to Point Elizabeth,t in Westland, but is decidedly rare and local. 
It is also found on Norfolk Island. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Coprosma Baueriana, Endl. 
C. retusa, Hook. f. 
An evergreen dicecious shrub or small tree, 5ft. to 25ft. high. Branches 
stout, with pale bark, often angular. Leaves opposite, petioled, with short broad 
triangular stipules connecting the petioles; fleshy, shining, glabrous, quite entire, 
broadly ovate or oblong, rounded or slightly indented at the apex, narrowed into 
the petiole below; margins often recurved. Flowers in many-flowered heads, 
— 
*J. C, Crawford: Trans. N,Z. Inst., Vol. r., p. 545. _ + I have a specimen collected in this locality by Mr. R. Helms. 
