PODOCARPUS FERRUGINBGA, Don. 
THE MIRO. 
OrRDER—CONIFERZ. 
TRIBE—PODOCARPE. 
(Plates LX XXIV. and LXXXIIa. in part.) 
THE miro is a valuable tree, common in all parts of the colony except the 
Kermadec and Chatham Islands, which appear to be totally destitute of any 
kind of pine. It is usually distinguished by its ordinary Native name, but is 
commonly termed ‘‘ black-pine’’ in Otago, and is frequently confused with the 
matai (Podocarpus spicata). Mr. Colenso informs me that it is also termed 
“toromiro”’ by the Natives: I believe this name is chiefly used by the Maoris 
of the East Cape district. 
It is usually from 5oft. to goft. high, and from tft. to 3ft. in diameter, with 
a greyish or blackish bark, which is occasionally deeply furrowed, but usually 
scales off in large flat flakes. The leaves are arranged in two rows: in the 
young state they are nearly tin. in length, very narrow, and pointed at the tip; 
in the mature state they are equally narrow, from din. to fin. long, and acute, 
with a distinct mid-rib; when dry they are of a deep-brown colour. In the 
recent state they are green, and bear considerable resemblance to those of the 
English yew (Taxus Europea). 
The male and female flowers are produced on separate trees, the male 
catkins being solitary in the axils of the leaves: the female flowers are solitary, 
and produced in the same manner, each consisting of a single ovule carried on 
a short stalk, din. to din. long, clothed with minute scale-like leaves. The fruit 
is handsome, of a bright-red colour, and, when fresh, covered with a delicate 
bloom; the outer layer is pulpy, and surrounds a hard nut, which contains a 
single seed. ‘The fruit is $in. long. 
The flowers are produced during October and November, and the fruit is 
ripe in July and August. 
PROPERTIES AND USEs. 
The timber of miro bears considerable resemblance to that of matai, from 
which, however, it is easily distinguished in cross section by the dark colour of 
the central portion of the heartwood. It is straight and even in the grain, 
compact, hard, elastic, and of great streneth, but is not durable in situations 
where water can gain access to joints, or when in contact with the ground. 
Its timber exceeds all New Zealand pines in strength. Its mean specific 
gravity is 787; weight per cubic foot, 49‘o7lb.; breaking weight, 197-2lb., the 
greatest weight borne by a single specimen being 201‘6lb.* Mr. Blair states 
that the weight in the green state ranges from 70°18glb. to 73°3211b., when dry 
from 42°8271b. to 47°482lb.; and gives the breaking weight as 220'14lb.t The 
heartwood is dark, and irregularly shaped when seen in cross-section, so that, 
* Balfour's Experiments on the Strength of New Zealand Timbers, 
+ Blair: Building Materials of Otago, pp. 224, 226. 
1h 2 
