158 LIBOCEDRUS DONIANA. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The wood is of a dark-red colour, with dark streaks, and is often of ereat 
beauty ; it is straight and even in the grain, of greater strength than the wood 
of the next species, which it rivals in durability. It is easily split into very thin 
sections, and is often used for posts, rails, shingles and palings, &c. It is an 
excellent timber for general building purposes, but, on account of its compara- 
tive rarity, it 1s too highly valued for the purposes of the cabinetmaker and for 
ornamental work generally to be extensively used for ordinary purposes. 
DisTRIBUTION OF THE GENUS. 
Libocedrus contains eight species, of which two are found in Chili, one in 
New Caledonia, one in China, one in Japan, one in California, and two in New 
Zealand. 
DIsTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES. 
Libocedrus Doniana is endemic in New Zealand, and appears to be restricted 
to the northern portion of the North Island; it is, however, extremely rare in 
many districts, being represented by a single tree, and it never forms any large 
portion of the forest. 
It is recorded by Mr. Buchanan, F.L.S., from Mount Egmont, which 
appears to be its most southern locality. 
Unless some mistake has occurred, the two species overlap in the Taranaki 
District, as I have seen specimens of L. Bidwilli said to have been collected on 
the southern side of Mount Egmont. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Libocedrus Doniana, Endlicher. 
Thuja Doniana, Hook., ‘‘ London Journal of Botany,’ 1., t. 18. 
Dacrydium plumosum, Don. 
A lofty tree, 6oft. to rooft. high; trunk from aft. to 4ft. or more in diameter. 
Branches distichous, flat. Leaves of two kinds, arranged in four rows: In 
young plants the lateral leaves are Hn. long, with broad bases ; upper and lower 
leaves jin. long, rhomboid. In the mature state the lateral leaves are sin. 
long, obtuse and keeled at the back, imbricating; smaller leaves, yin. long. 
Male and female catkins solitary, terminating branchlets. Fruit, a woody cone, 
consisting of four scales, each with a spine projecting from the back. Seeds, 
two, each with a membranous oblique wing. 
EXPLANATION oF Piates LXXXII. anp LXXXIIa. (1 part). 
LXXXII. Libocedrus Doniana, Endl. 1. Branch from a young plant. 
2, Mature state, with fruit, natural size. 
LXXXIIa. 1. Leaves of young plant, natural size. 2. The same magnified. 
3’. Leaves of mature state and fruit. 4. Leaves of mature state, magnified. 
4'. Transverse section of a mature branchlet, magnified. 5. Seed, natural size. 
6 and 7. Upper and lower surfaces of the same, magnified. 
