nL  ————— 
138 FUSANUS OUNNINGHAMII. 
short raceme or a small cyme; or the inflorescence may be 2in. long or _ more, 
consisting of a number of single flowers intermixed with clusters or small ¢ 1e8 
a minute bracteole springs chet the base of each flower, and not infrequently ‘a 
one or two are found on each flower-stalk. The flowers are about }in. across, 
and are usually perfect, although separate female or probably abortive flowe < 
are often met with. There is no distinct calyx, but the perianth is broadly 
cup-shaped, usually with five short spreading lobes having a scale-like patch o of 
yellowish hairs at the middle of the base of each: a stamen with a very short 
filament is inserted at the base of each perianth-leaf, The ovary is smooth, suni c 
in the tube of the perianth, one-celled, with a short conical style; the stone is 
partially divided into three or four minute lobes; ovules, two to four. F ruit, ¢ m 
red drupe, 3in. long, crowned with the remains of the perianth, and sometimes 
longitudinally ribbed. : ; 
There is reason to believe that this plant is parasitic on the roots of | other 
plants in the young state. 
PROPERTIES AND USES. 
The wood of the New Zealand sandal-wood is of a rich deep-brown hue, 
with darker streaks and markings, and an agreeable odour, It is even, compact 
in the grain, heavy, of great strength and durability ; but, as the trunk rarel ve. 
exieede gin. in diiemenee it is only useful for purposes of the cabinetnaeem 
ornamental turnery, &c. It has been used as a substitute for box-wood, and is 
commonly used for fence-rails in districts where it is plentiful. If its value fe 
ornamental turned-work were more generally known it would probably be largely. 
utilised for the manufacture of napkin-rings, inkstands, turned vases, &e. , both 
on account of its beauty and agreeable odour. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Fusanus is an Australasian genus, comprising five species, four of which 4 
endemic in Australia, and one in New Zealand. 
The Australian species differ externally from the New Zealand plant in thei 
opposite leaves, terminal flowers, and globose fruit. he 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
au 
Fusanus Cunninghamii is endemic in the North Island of New Zealand, 
where it occurs from Mongenui to Belmont and Cape Palliser. It is most p on- 
tiful in the district north of the Hauraki Gulf, being rare and local in the 
southern districts of the Island. 
It descends to the sea-level, and is most DeQuEEEs at altitudes bakow t,ocoft., 
but in rare instances ascends to 2,o00ft. , 7 
DESCRIPTION. 
Fusanus Cunninghamali, Benth. and Hook. f. 
Mida salicifolia, A. Cunn. 
M. eucalyptoides, A. Cunn. 
M. myrtifolia, A. Cunn. 
Santalum Mida, Hook., ‘‘ Icones Plantarum,’’ t. pixur. and DLXXV. 
Santalum Coreg Hook. f., ‘‘ Flora Nove-Zelandiz,” i., “p. 2 ee 
A small evergreen tree, Bie high. Leaves seen: Pes Be Jed 
