142 PENNANTIA CORYMBOSA. 
It was formerly used by the Maoris to obtain fire by friction. A piece of 
thoroughly-dried wood was sharpened to a point, and vigorously worked back- 
wards and forwards along a piece of soft wood, pate (Schefflera digitata) or mahoe 
(Melicytus ramiflorus) being preferred: a groove was thus formed, and the minute 
portions worn off by friction became ignited after considerable labour. 
It is of great value as an ornamental flowering shrub, and is easily culti- 
vated. Plants may readily be raised from seed, or seedlings obtained from the 
forests may be successfully transplanted, if protected from the scorching sun 
and from drying winds during the first season, 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Pennantia is a small Australasian genus, consisting of four species only, two 
of which are peculiar to Australia, one to Norfolk Island, and one to New 
Zealand. 
DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Pennantia corymbosa occurs from Mongonui to Otago, but is rare and local 
in certain districts. North of the Waitemata it is decidedly rare, although 
specimens 4oft. high have been observed at the Bay of Islands, Hotea, &c. It 
is more plentiful on the western bank of the Waikato, and becomes abundant 
in the lowland districts of the South: it is especially plentiful on both sides of 
Cook Strait. It has not been found on Stewart Island. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Pennantia corymbosa, Forster. 
A much-branched dicecious tree, 20ft. to 4oft. high, In the young state the 
branches are slender, flexuous, and interlaced with alternate distant leaves, 
often less than Jin. long, and nearly sessile. In the mature state the leaves are 
alternate, shortly petioled, 1in. to 4in. long, $in. to 14in. broad, oblong or ovate 
or obovate, entire or sinuately lobed or toothed, or with large coarse teeth; 
branchlets and inflorescence pubescent or downy. Flowers in much-branched 
terminal cymes. Male, calyx small, five-toothed ; corolla of five free petals ; 
stamens, five, versatile, longer than the petals, filaments slender. Female 
much smaller than the male; stamens, five, erect; anthers basifixed ; pollen 
usually abortive ; ovary erect, oblong, one-celled, oyule solitary, stigma trifid. 
Fruit, a fleshy drupe, din. long, nut trigonous ; seed with copious endosperm ; 
embryo small. 
EXPLANATION OF Prates LXXVII. anp LXXVILII. 
LXXVII. Pennantia corymbosa, Forster. Portion of young plant, natural 
S1Ze. | 
LXXVIII. Pennantia corymbosa, Forster. Vlowering specimens, male and 
female, natural size. 1. Male flower. 2. Female flower. 3. Ovary. 4. Trans- 
verse section of ovary. All magnified. 5. Fruits, natural size. 6, Longitudinal 
section of fruit. 7. Transverse section of fruit. 8. Nut, showing the cord 
passing along one side. 9g. The same with the cord removed, showing the 
aperture through which it passes. to. Nut, back view. All magnified. 
