WEHINMANNIA RACEMOSA, Forster. 
THE TOWAL OR KAMAHI. 
Orper—SAKIFRAGE ZZ. 
(Plate LX XIII.) 
Mr. CoLtenso informs me that this species is the towai of the Maoris; and I 
learn from the Ven. Archdeacon W. L. Williams that it is termed ‘“ tawhero”’ by 
the East Cape Natives—the name commonly applied to the preceding species, 
W. silvicola. It is, however, generally known as ‘“‘kamahi’’ in the South Island 
and in Stewart Island. In common with other trees characterized by small 
leaves, it is termed ‘‘ birch”’ by the bushman, or ‘‘red-birch”’ or ‘‘ brown-birch,”’ 
the names being applied with strict impartiality and without any definite 
meaning. 
It closely resembles Weinmannia silvicola in habit and general appearance, 
as well as in the structure of the flowers and fruit, but attains larger dimensions. 
The leaves are invariably simple in the mature state, and the ovary is usually 
clothed with a coat of hairs. 
It attains a maximum height of goft. or 1ooft., with a trunk from rft. to 4ft. 
in diameter: the bark is even, rather thin and light-coloured, whitish or grey. 
In the seedling state the leaves are thin, membranous, and either simple or with 
not more than three pairs of leaflets. Long flexuous shoots, bearing simple 
leaves, mixed with others consisting of three leaflets, are often developed on the 
trunks of old trees; but the ordinary leaves of mature trees are invariably simple, 
although they vary in outline: they are from rin. to 4in, in length, quite smooth, 
very thick in texture, and with the margins cut into coarse obtuse teeth. The 
leaves are jointed to the leaf-stalks. | 
The flowers differ but little from those of W. silvicola; the racemes are 
more robust, and the panicles rarely consist of more than three racemes; the 
pedicels are stouter, and the flowers larger, din. to din. in diameter: the ovary Is 
usually hairy, and the capsules are larger. 
The flowers are produced from October to January. 
PROPERTIES AND UssEs. 
The timber of Weinmannia racemosa is of a deeper red than that of W. silvi- 
cola, but the colour varies: it is hard, strong, even, and firm. The numerous 
close longitudinal streaks which it frequently exhibits have a very ornamental 
effect, which is heightened by the small “ silver grain,” so that it is well suited 
for the purposes of the cabinetmaker and for general ornamental work, orna- 
mental turnery, &c. It is also used for house-blocks, piles, fence-posts, tramway- 
sleepers, &c., and is suitable for beams and framing as well as for boards used 
under cover. 
Considerable difference of opinion has been expressed with regard to its 
durability. This has partly been due to two causes: there is but little obvious 
distinction between heartwood and sap, so that mere sapwood has often been 
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