LIBOCEDRUS BIDWILLII, Hook. t. 
THE PAHAUTEA. 
OrpER—CONIFERA. 
TRIBE—CUPRESSINE. 
(Plates LXXXIII. and LXXXIIa. in part.) 
As stated under the preceding species, Libocedrus Bidwillii is generally known as 
“kaikawaka”’ by surveyors and bushmen, although Mr. Colenso states that the 
correct Native name is ‘ pahautea.’”’ It has been stated that this tree is called 
“ totarakirikotukutuku,” but Mr. Colenso says emphatically that ‘‘no old Maori 
would have thought of such a thing.” It is commonly termed ‘ cedar” in the 
South Island. 
It bears a close resemblance to the last species, Libocedrus Doniana, and 
cannot be separated by any marked distinctive characters. It is smaller in all its 
parts, being usually from 5oft. to 7oft. high, with a trunk from 13ft. to nearly 3ft. 
in diameter: trunks 8o0ft. long and 4ft. in diameter are occasionally met with. 
On the other hand, when growing on peaty soil it is often less than 12ft. high. 
In all cases it tapers rapidly, and forms a cone-shaped head with short branches, 
the habit closely approaching that of Sequoia gigantea. The bark is loose and 
flaky, resembling that of the kawaka, but is rather more fibrous. The leaves 
are similar to those of the preceding species, both in the young and mature 
states, so that it is not necessary to describe them at length; but the ultimate 
branches with the appressed leaves are always four-sided. The longer leaves in 
the young state are about fin. long, and in the mature state from ~sin. to pon. 
The male and female flowers are produced on the same plant, the male being 
arranged in short cylindrical cones 4in. long, seated between the terminal leaves 
at the tips of branchlets: the male flowers consist of from seven to nine 
pendulous anthers, each with four cells: the anther-scale (or connective) 1s 
ovate, narrowed into a sharp point, and is attached to the axis of the cone by a 
process springing from its centre. The female flowers also spring from the tips 
of branchlets, and are about .3;in. long; they consist of four green leaves of thick 
texture, broad at the base and tapering to a point, which are arranged in 
opposite pairs. At the inner base of each leaf is a fleshy ovate scale, which is 
sterile on the two outer leaves, but bears two ovules on the inner leaves. 
After fertilisation the fleshy scales speedily increase in size and become 
woody; but the growth of the outer pair is arrested before they attain the length 
of the leaf which adheres to the back of each, and ultimately forms a straight or 
curved woody spine projecting beyond the scale. The same process is exhibited 
by the inner pair of fleshy scales and their adherent leaves, except that the 
scales become longer than the leaves, and the curved spine springs from the 
back of the scale below its apex. Two of the ovules in each flower are usually 
abortive; each of the others develops a membranous wing. 
I regret not to have had the opportunity of examining the flowers of the 
preceding species for the sake of comparison. 
