132 WEINMANNIA SILVICOLA. 
tree a showy object when in full bloom, They are arranged in erect racemes, 
from 2in. to 6in. long, which are usually developed at the tips of the branches, 
and may be solitary or may form terminal panicles. The parts of the flower are 
minute: the calyx forms a cup, the upper portion of which is deeply divided into 
four lobes, and the corolla is composed of four free white rounded petals. The 
stamens are eight in number, and are much longer than the petals ; the ovary is 
two-celled, with two divergent styles, and is usually smooth. The fruit 1s a two- 
celled capsule containing numerous minute brown seeds with a tuft of spreading 
hairs at each extremity. ' 
In some specimens five petals and ten stamens are developed in each | 
Hower. 
PROPERTIES AND Uses. 
The timber is of a light brownish-red tint, fine, even, and compact in the 
erain, strong, tough, and clastic, and is applicable to a variety of purposes, 
although nothing is positively known as to its durability, which may, however, 
be assumed equal to that of the next species, W. racemosa. It has long been 
famous for its bark, which contains from r1o to 13 per cent. of tannin, and 
was formerly used to a large extent in the Auckland tanneries: the supply, 
however, was obtained in a most wasteful manner, the bark being peeled as high 
as aman could reach, the branches and upper portion of the trunk being left 
untouched, so that the supply in the immediate vicinity of settlements soon 
became exhausted. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. | 
Weinmannia comprises about fifty species, which are distributed through the 
Malay Archipelago, the Pacific Islands, tropical and temperate South America, 
South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. One species is found in Australia, 
but its flowers are unknown; two are endemic in New Zealand. 
DistRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Weinmannia silvicola appears to be confined to the Auckland District, and to 
the northern part of the Hawke’s Bay District, and ascends from the sea-level 
to 3,000ft. It was formerly supposed to be common throughout the North 
Island and the northern part of the South Island; but it is found that W. race- 
mosa has been mistaken for it. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Weinmannia silvicola, Banks and Sol. | 
An erect evergreen tree, 2oft. to 7oft. high: young branchlets, petioles, and 
midribs beneath more or less pubescent. Leaves opposite, unequally pinnate, 
with many pairs of leaflets or trifoliolate, or unifoliolate. Leaflets tin. to 2in. 
lone, coriaceous, lanceolate or ovate, acute or acuminate, coarsely toothed, 
stipules leafy, lobed or toothed. Flowers jyin. in diameter, arranged in racemes 
or on terminal racemose panicles, 2in. to 6in. long, many-flowered ; rhachis and 
pedicels pubescent. Petals, four, white, ovate; stamens, eight, exceeding the 
petals; ovary conical, two-celled, usually glabrous; styles, two, divergent. 
Fruit, a capsule with two beaks; seeds numerous, with a tuft of hairs springing 
from each extremity. 
EXPLANATION OF PLare LXXII. | 
Weinmannia silvicola, Banks and Sol. Flowering specimen with trifoliolate 
leaves, and large pinnate leaf with stipule, natural size. 1. Flower. 2. Ovary. 
3. A single valve of the capsule; inside view. 4. Capsule after dehiscence. 
All magnified. 
